title: Magnetization transfer ratio relates to cognitive impairment in normal elderly.
abstract: Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) can detect microstructural brain tissue changes and may be helpful in determining age-related cerebral damage. We investigated the association between the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in gray and white matter (WM) and cognitive functioning in 355 participants of the Austrian stroke prevention family study (ASPS-Fam) aged 38-86 years. MTR maps were generated for the neocortex, deep gray matter structures, WM hyperintensities, and normal appearing WM (NAWM). Adjusted mixed models determined whole brain and lobar cortical MTR to be directly and significantly related to performance on tests of memory, executive function, and motor skills. There existed an almost linear dose-effect relationship. MTR of deep gray matter structures and NAWM correlated to executive functioning. All associations were independent of demographics, vascular risk factors, focal brain lesions, and cortex volume. Further research is needed to understand the basis of this association at the tissue level, and to determine the role of MTR in predicting cognitive decline and dementia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pirpamer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria ; Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-University , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duering
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, CHU Lariboisière , Paris , France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jouvent
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.affiliation: Neurospin, CEA Saclay , Saclay , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mangin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, CHU Lariboisière , Paris , France.
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chabriat
authors.affiliation: Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-University , Munich , Germany ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) , Munich , Germany ; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dichgans
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ropele
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
keywords: cerebrovascular disease; cognitive aging; dementia; magnetic resonance imaging; magnetization transfer imaging; microstructural tissue damage