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. 2021 Apr;268(4):1284-1294.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-10271-1. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: blood perfusion with arterial spin labelling

Michael J Firbank  1 , John T O'Brien  2 , Rory Durcan  3 , Louise M Allan  4 , Sally Barker  3 , Joanna Ciafone  3 , Paul C Donaghy  3 , Calum A Hamilton  3 , Sarah Lawley  3 , Jim Lloyd  5 , Gemma Roberts  3   5 , John-Paul Taylor  3 , Alan J Thomas  3
Affiliations

Mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: blood perfusion with arterial spin labelling

Michael J Firbank et al. J Neurol. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To use arterial spin labelling to investigate differences in perfusion in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) compared to Alzheimer type MCI (MCI-AD) and healthy controls.

Methods: We obtained perfusion images on 32 MCI-LB, 30 MCI-AD and 28 healthy subjects of similar age. Perfusion relative to cerebellum was calculated, and we aimed to examine differences in relative perfusion between MCI-LB and the other groups. This included whole brain voxelwise comparisons, as well as using predefined region-of-interest ratios of medial occipital to medial temporal, and posterior cingulate to precuneus. Differences in occipital perfusion in eyes open vs eyes closed conditions were also examined.

Results: Compared to controls, the MCI-LB showed reduced perfusion in the precuneus, parietal, occipital and fusiform gyrus regions. In our predefined regions, the ratio of perfusion in occipital/medial temporal was significantly lower, and the posterior cingulate/precuneus ratio was significantly higher in MCI-LB compared to controls. Overall, the occipital perfusion was greater in the eyes open vs closed condition, but this did not differ between groups.

Conclusion: We found patterns of altered perfusion in MCI-LB which are similar to those seen in dementia with Lewy bodies, with reduction in posterior parietal and occipital regions, but relatively preserved posterior cingulate.

Keywords: Arterial spin labelling; Lewy body disease; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mild cognitive impairment; Perfusion imaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

MJF, LMA, SB, JC, CH, SL, JJL, declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart showing exclusions and number of MRI scans in the patient groups
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Significant perfusion reductions in MCI-LB relative to the control group. T statistic map overlaid on study specific average structural scan. Results thresholded at p < 0.001 voxelwise
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Areas where perfusion is greater during eyes open vs closed in the entire group. Statistic map thresholded at p = 0.05 voxelwise family wise error corrected. Overlaid on study specific average structural scan
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Medial occipital/medial temporal lobe perfusion ratio in the groups, with the probable MCI-LB group split by the number of core diagnostic features
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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