Associations between brain structures, cognition and dual-task performance in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A study based on voxel-based morphology

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore the associations between brain structures, cognition, and motor control in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with a focus on dual-task performance.

Methods: Thirty MCI patients and thirty healthy controls were enrolled. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to calculate brain parenchyma volume and gray matter volume (GMV). Participants performed single- and dual-task Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, and the correlations between significant GMV differences and task execution time was analyzed.

Results: MCI patients showed significantly lower MoCA scores, particularly in visuospatial/executive, attention, and delayed recall domains (p < 0.05). Dual-task TUG execution time was significantly increased in MCI patients (p < 0.05). The GMV in the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and both insulae was positively correlated with visuospatial/executive scores (FDR-corrected, p < 0.05). The GMV of the right cerebellar anterior lobe and insula were significantly reduced in MCI patients (p < 0.05). The GMV of the right cerebellar anterior lobe was negatively correlated with dual-task execution time (r = -0.32, p = 0.012).

Conclusion: Smaller GMV in the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum was associated with impaired dual-task performance, which may provide more evidence for the neural mechanisms of cognitive and motor function impairments in MCI.

Keywords: Cerebellum; Dual-task paradigm; Mild cognitive impairment; Voxel-based morphometry.