Thalamic diffusion differences related to cognitive function in white matter lesions.
Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are related to cognitive deficits, probably due to a disruption of frontal-subcortical circuits. We explored thalamic diffusion differences related to white matter lesions (WMLs) and their association with cognitive function in middle-aged individuals. Ninety-six participants from the Barcelona-AsIA Neuropsychology Study were included. Participants were classified into groups based on low grade and high grade of periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to study thalamic diffusion differences between groups. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values in significant areas were calculated for each subject and correlated with cognitive performance. Participants with high-grade PVHs and DWMHs showed lower FA thalamic values compared to those with low-grade PVHs and DWMHs, respectively. Decreased FA thalamic values in high-grade DWMHs, but not high-grade PVH, were related to lower levels of performance in psychomotor speed, verbal fluency, and visuospatial skills. Thalamic diffusion differences are related to lower cognitive function only in participants with high-grade DWMHs. These results support the hypothesis that fronto-subcortical disruption is associated with cognitive function only in DWMHs.
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Marina
M
Fernández-Andújar
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Juan José
JJ
Soriano-Raya
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Júlia
J
Miralbell
Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
Elena
E
López-Cancio
Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
Cynthia
C
Cáceres
Image Research Platform, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
Núria
N
Bargalló
Department of Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Maite
M
Barrios
Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain.
Juan Francisco
JF
Arenillas
Primary Healthcare Research Support Unit Metropolitana Nord, ICS-IDIAP Jordi Gol, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain.
Pere
P
Toran
Primary Healthcare Research Support Unit Metropolitana Nord, ICS-IDIAP Jordi Gol, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain.
Maite
M
Alzamora
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Imma
I
Clemente
Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
Antoni
A
Dávalos
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mmataro@ub.edu.
Maria
M
Mataró
D016880:Anisotropy; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
Neuropsychology; Psychomotor speed; Thalamus diffusivity; Verbal fluency; Visuospatial skills; White matter lesions