Abstract
This study investigates the patho-physiological implications of the uncinate fasciculus (UF) in the two most common forms of dementia, namely Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Forty-five consecutive patients diagnosed with either probable AD or DLB, and 16 individuals with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) were investigated using diffusion tensor MRI. Thirteen healthy subjects (HS) were also studied as controls. In each subject, the UF was bilaterally reconstructed by probabilistic tractography. From each UF, macroscopic volume and correspondent fractional anisotropy (FA) (an index of microscopic white matter integrity) were derived for the whole tract, and for the frontal and temporal portion of the UF. No significant between-group volumetric differences were found. In contrast, FA values from the UF were reduced bilaterally in patients with dementia (either AD or DLB) compared to HS. In addition, patients with AD showed reduced FA values compared to those with a-MCI. No significant FA difference was found between AD and DLB patients, nor between a-MCI and HS. Finally, in all patients, UF FA values were associated with neuropsychological scores at tests exploring memory and executive functions. This study indicates that the UF is remarkably damaged in patients at the stage of dementia, independently from the diagnostic form. Moreover, this UF damage seems to be driven by temporal involvement in AD, for which a prodromal stage (a-MCI) is defined.
Keywords: Uncinate fasciculus, Alzheimer’s disease, Mild cognitive impairment, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Diffusion tensor imaging, tractography
Current Alzheimer Research
Title:White Matter Damage Along the Uncinate Fasciculus Contributes to Cognitive Decline in AD and DLB
Volume: 9 Issue: 3
Author(s): L. Serra, M. Cercignani, B. Basile, B. Spano, R. Perri, L. Fadda, C. Marra, F. Giubilei, C. Caltagirone and M. Bozzali
Affiliation:
Keywords: Uncinate fasciculus, Alzheimer’s disease, Mild cognitive impairment, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Diffusion tensor imaging, tractography
Abstract: This study investigates the patho-physiological implications of the uncinate fasciculus (UF) in the two most common forms of dementia, namely Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Forty-five consecutive patients diagnosed with either probable AD or DLB, and 16 individuals with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) were investigated using diffusion tensor MRI. Thirteen healthy subjects (HS) were also studied as controls. In each subject, the UF was bilaterally reconstructed by probabilistic tractography. From each UF, macroscopic volume and correspondent fractional anisotropy (FA) (an index of microscopic white matter integrity) were derived for the whole tract, and for the frontal and temporal portion of the UF. No significant between-group volumetric differences were found. In contrast, FA values from the UF were reduced bilaterally in patients with dementia (either AD or DLB) compared to HS. In addition, patients with AD showed reduced FA values compared to those with a-MCI. No significant FA difference was found between AD and DLB patients, nor between a-MCI and HS. Finally, in all patients, UF FA values were associated with neuropsychological scores at tests exploring memory and executive functions. This study indicates that the UF is remarkably damaged in patients at the stage of dementia, independently from the diagnostic form. Moreover, this UF damage seems to be driven by temporal involvement in AD, for which a prodromal stage (a-MCI) is defined.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Serra L., Cercignani M., Basile B., Spano B., Perri R., Fadda L., Marra C., Giubilei F., Caltagirone C. and Bozzali M., White Matter Damage Along the Uncinate Fasciculus Contributes to Cognitive Decline in AD and DLB, Current Alzheimer Research 2012; 9 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720512800107555
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720512800107555 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Receptors of Peptides as Therapeutic Targets in Epilepsy Research
Current Medicinal Chemistry Myopathic Involvement and Mitochondrial Pathology in Kennedy Disease and in Other Motor Neuron Diseases
Current Molecular Medicine Serum Insulin Degrading Enzyme Level and Other Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Current Alzheimer Research Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Biology: Effect on Synaptic Connectivity and Function in Neurological Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic: Nitric Oxide: Implications for the Etiology & Treatment of Central Nervous System Disorders (Guest Editor: Giuseppe Di Giovanni)]
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Neurological Disorders in Pregnancy
Current Women`s Health Reviews Molecular Cytogenetics of Autism
Current Genomics Structural Bioinformatics in Broad-Spectrum Racemases: A New Path in Antimicrobial Research
Current Organic Chemistry Molecular Docking, Synthesis and CNS Activity of Some Novel 1, 4-Benzodiazepine Derivatives
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Engineered Probiotic and Prebiotic Nutraceutical Supplementations in Combating Non-communicable Disorders: A Review
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Pharmacological Approaches of Binge Drinking
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot Topic: Therapeutic Potential of Peptide Motifs - Part I (Executive Editor: Jean-Claude Herve)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Usefulness of Phalangeal Quantitative Ultrasound in the Assessment of Skeletal Status in Children and Adolescents
Current Medical Imaging Therapeutic Potential of Voltage Gated Calcium Channels
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Growing up with Midazolam in the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care
Current Drug Metabolism Management of Incidental Findings in the Era of Next-generation Sequencing
Current Genomics Cold-induced Anaphylaxis: The Case of a 9-year-old Child and Review of the Literature
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets The Biology of the RNA Binding Protein Guanine-Rich Sequence Binding Factor 1
Current Protein & Peptide Science Depot Based Drug Delivery System for the Management of Depression
Current Drug Delivery Non-Selective Cation Channel Blockers: Potential Use in Nervous System Basic Research and Therapeutics
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry