title: The effects of white matter hyperintensities and amyloid deposition on Alzheimer dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated levels of amyloid deposition as well as white matter damage are thought to be risk factors for Alzheimer Disease (AD). Here we examined whether qualitative ratings of white matter damage predicted cognitive impairment beyond measures of amyloid.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study examined 397 cognitively normal, 51 very mildly demented, and 11 mildly demented individuals aged 42-90 (mean 68.5). Participants obtained a T2-weighted scan as well as a positron emission tomography scan using (11)[C] Pittsburgh Compound B. Periventricular white matter hyperintensities (PVWMHs) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs) were measured on each T2 scan using the Fazekas rating scale. The effects of amyloid deposition and white matter damage were assessed using logistic regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of amyloid deposition (ps < 0.01), as well as ratings of PVWMH (p < 0.01) and DWMH (p < 0.05) discriminated between cognitively normal and demented individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amount of amyloid deposition and white matter damage independently predicts cognitive impairment. This suggests a diagnostic utility of qualitative white matter scales in addition to measuring amyloid levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA ; Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA ; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Iran.
authors.forename: Safa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najmi
authors.affiliation: Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, USA ; Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.affiliation: Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, USA ; Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA ; Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Tammie L S
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Benzinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013844:Thiazoles; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C475519:2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole; D000682:Amyloid; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles
keywords: Alzheimer's; Amyloid; Biomarkers; Myelin; Vascular; White matter