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. 2023 Dec;531(18):2162-2171.
doi: 10.1002/cne.25564. Epub 2023 Nov 27.

Associations between white matter integrity of the cingulum bundle, surrounding gray matter regions, and cognition across the dementia continuum

Renée C Groechel  1 , Michael L Alosco  2   3   4 , Diane Dixon  2   5 , Yorghos Tripodis  2   6 , Jesse Mez  2   3   4 , Lee Goldstein  2   7   8 , Andrew E Budson  2   3   9 , Wei Qiao Qiu  2   8 , Ronald J Killiany  1   2   3   7   10
Affiliations

Associations between white matter integrity of the cingulum bundle, surrounding gray matter regions, and cognition across the dementia continuum

Renée C Groechel et al. J Comp Neurol. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Previous Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) research studies have illustrated the significance of studying alterations in white matter (WM). Fewer studies have examined how WM integrity, measured with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), is associated with volume of gray matter (GM) regions and measures of cognitive function in aged participants spanning the dementia continuum.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive data were collected from 241 Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center participants who spanned from cognitively normal controls to amnestic mild cognitive impairment to having dementia. Primary DTI tracts of interest were the cingulum ventral (CV) and cingulum dorsal (CD) pathways. GM regions of interest (ROIs) were in the medial temporal lobe (MTL), prefrontal cortex, and retrosplenial cortex. Analyses of covariance models were used to assess differences in WM integrity across groups (control, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and dementia). Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between WM integrity and GM volume, and with measures of memory and executive function.

Results: Differences in WM integrity were shown in both cingulum pathways in participants across the dementia continuum. Associations between WM integrity of both cingulum pathways and volume of selected GM ROIs were widespread. Functionally significant associations were found between WM of the CV pathway and memory, independent of MTL GM volume.

Discussion: Differences in WM integrity of the cingulum bundle and surrounding GM ROI are likely related to the progression of AD/ADRD. Such differences should continue to be studied, particularly in association with memory performance.

Keywords: MRI; aging; cingulum; cognition; dementia; white matter integrity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict: None of the authors have a conflict of interest with this work.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Freesurfer Reconstruction of Cingulum Pathways
Left cingulum dorsal pathway shown in aqua, left cingulum ventral pathway shown in light green
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Boxplot of MD and FA of White Matter Pathways
ANCOVA Model 1 p values shown. Cingulum dorsal (blue) in top panel, cingulum ventral (green) in middle panel, corticospinal (purple) bottom panel. MD on left (darker shade), FA (lighter shade) on right. Post hoc Tukey’s HSD between group differences indicated with brackets (full statistics shown in Supplemental Table 2). Abbreviations: aMCI, amnestic mild cognitive impairment; FA, fractional anisotropy; MD, mean diffusivity
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Associations between White Matter Integrity of Cingulum Dorsal and Volume of Hippocampus
Regression model 1 p values shown. Hippocampal volume adjusted for eTIV. Abbreviations: β, beta; eTIV, estimated total intracranial volume; FA, fractional anisotropy; MD, mean diffusivity; SE, standard error
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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