White matter microstructure disruption in early stage amyloid pathology. Issue 1 (1st April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Collij, Lyduine E.; Ingala, Silvia; Top, Herwin; Wottschel, Viktor; Stickney, Kristine E.; Tomassen, Jori; Konijnenberg, Elles; ten Kate, Mara; Sudre, Carole; Lopes Alves, Isadora; Yaqub, Maqsood M.; Wink, Alle Meije; Van 't Ent, Dennis; Scheltens, Philip; van Berckel, Bart N.M.; Visser, Pieter Jelle; Barkhof, Frederik; Braber, Anouk Den
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 13:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-04-01
• Subjects: Amyloid beta (Aβ) -- diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) -- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- positron emission tomography (PET) -- preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) -- white matter microstructure; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer's disease -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 616.831
• DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12124
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-8729

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation is the first pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it is associated with altered white matter (WM) microstructure. We aimed to investigate this relationship at a regional level in a cognitively unimpaired cohort. Methods: We included 179 individuals from the European Medical Information Framework for AD (EMIF‐AD) preclinAD study, who underwent diffusion magnetic resonance (MR) to determine tract‐level fractional anisotropy (FA); mean, radial, and axial diffusivity (MD/RD/AxD); and dynamic [ 18 F]flutemetamol) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to assess amyloid burden. Results: Regression analyses showed a non‐linear relationship between regional amyloid burden and WM microstructure. Low amyloid burden was associated with increased FA and decreased MD/RD/AxD, followed by decreased FA and increased MD/RD/AxD upon higher amyloid burden. The strongest association was observed between amyloid burden in the precuneus and body of the corpus callosum (CC) FA and diffusivity (MD/RD) measures. In addition, amyloid burden in the anterior cingulate cortex strongly related to AxD and RD measures in the genu CC. Discussion: Early amyloid deposition is associated with changes in WM microstructure. The non‐linear relationship might reflect multiple stages of axonal damage.