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Comparative Study
. 2009 Mar 3;72(9):813-20.
doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000343851.46573.67.

Voxel-based morphometry patterns of atrophy in FTLD with mutations in MAPT or PGRN

J L Whitwell  1 , C R Jack Jr, B F Boeve, M L Senjem, M Baker, R Rademakers, R J Ivnik, D S Knopman, Z K Wszolek, R C Petersen, K A Josephs
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Voxel-based morphometry patterns of atrophy in FTLD with mutations in MAPT or PGRN

J L Whitwell et al. Neurology. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare patterns of gray matter loss in subjects with mutations in the progranulin (PGRN) gene to subjects with mutations in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene.

Methods: We identified all subjects seen at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, who had screened positive for mutations in PGRN or MAPT and had a head MRI. Twelve cases with mutations in the PGRN gene were matched by time from disease onset to scan to 12 subjects with mutations in the MAPT gene. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess patterns of gray matter loss in the PGRN and MAPT groups compared to a control cohort, and compared to each other. MAPT subjects were younger than the PGRN subjects; therefore, each group was also compared to a specific age-matched control group.

Results: Both PGRN and MAPT groups showed gray matter loss in frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes compared to controls, although loss was predominantly identified in posterior temporal and parietal lobes in PGRN and anteromedial temporal lobes in MAPT. The MAPT group had greater loss compared to healthy subjects of the same age than the PGRN subjects when compared to healthy subjects of the same age. The MAPT subjects showed greater gray matter loss in the medial temporal lobes, insula, and putamen than the PGRN subjects.

Conclusion: These results increase understanding of the biology of these disorders and suggest that patterns of atrophy on MRI may be useful to aid in the differentiation of groups of PGRN and MAPT mutation carriers.

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Figures

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Figure 1 Patterns of gray matter loss in subjects with mutations in PGRN and subjects with mutations in MAPT compared to the entire control cohort Results are shown on three-dimensional renders of the brain and coronal slices through the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes.
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Figure 2 Patterns of gray matter loss in subjects with mutations in PGRN compared to age-matched old controls, and subjects with mutations in MAPT compared to age-matched young controls Results are shown on three-dimensional renders of the brain and coronal slices through the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes.
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Figure 3 Regions that show greater gray matter loss in subjects with mutations in MAPT compared to subjects with mutations in PGRN
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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