脑白质病变相关性轻度认知功能障碍患者神经心理学特征分析

目的观察脑白质病变(WML)对轻度认知功能损害(mild cognitive impairment,MCI)患者神经心理学的影响。方法 WML-MCI患者和健康对照者进行常规核磁共振及神经心理学检查,观察WML对MCI患者神经心理学的影响,并对其机制进行探讨。结果 WML-MCI组与对照组相比,高血压、糖尿病和冠心病比例明显增高;词语流畅性测验、积木测验和画钟测验评分均明显降低(P<0.05);而2组间MMSE、数字广度测验和词语延迟回忆测验评分无明显差异。结论 WML影响MCI患者的认知功能,主要表现为视空间及执行功能。血管危险因素是MCI发病的危险因素。     

Diffusion tensor imaging and white matter lesions at the subacute stage in mild traumatic brain injury with persistent neurobehavioral impairment

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can induce long‐term behavioral and cognitive disorders. Although the exact origin of these mTBI‐related disorders is not known, they may be the consequence of diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Here, we investigated whether MRI at the subacute stage can detect lesions that are associated with poor functional outcome in mTBI by using anatomical images (T₁) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Twenty‐three patients with mTBI were investigated and compared with 23 healthy volunteers. All patients underwent an MRI investigation and clinical tests between 7 and 28 days (D15) and between 3 and 4 months (M3) after injury. Patients were divided in two groups of poor outcome (PO) and good outcome (GO), based on their complaints at M3. Groupwise differences in gray matter partial volume between PO patients, GO patients and controls were analyzed using Voxel‐Based Morphometry (VBM) from T₁ data at D15. Differences in microstructural architecture were investigated using Tract‐Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and the diffusion images obtained from DTI data at D15. Permutation‐based non‐parametric testing was used to assess cluster significance at p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons. Twelve GO patients and 11 PO patients were identified on the basis of their complaints. In PO patients, gray matter partial volume was significantly lower in several cortical and subcortical regions compared with controls, but did not differ from that of GO patients. No difference in diffusion variables was found between GO and controls. PO patients showed significantly higher mean diffusivity values than both controls and GO patients in the corpus callosum, the right anterior thalamic radiations and the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and the fronto‐occipital fasciculus bilaterally. In conclusion, PO patients differed from GO patients by the presence of diffusion changes in long association white matter fiber tracts but not by gray matter partial volume. These results suggest that DTI at the subacute stage may be a predictive marker of poor outcome in mTBI. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Diffusion tensor imaging based white matter changes and antioxidant enzymes status for early identification of mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of dementia. The changes in white matter integrity and antioxidant enzymes levels are crucial in onset and progression to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To elucidate the changes in cognitive performance, white matter integrity, oxidative stress marker, for early detection of prodromal state of AD. Fifty cases of MCI and controls (55-75 years) were subjected to Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) followed by estimation of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation in serum of MCI and control population. The MMSE scores of MCI subjects were (28±2 - 22.6±1) as compared with controls (28±1- 29±1). DTI metrics fractional anisotropy (FA) values in right and left frontal lobe, fornix, corpus callosum, while apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in right temporal lobe, hippocampus head, corpus callosum right, and forcep major were significantly altered in MCI as compared with controls. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase level were lower while lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased in patients with MCI as compared with controls. The study emphasized that changes in neuro-psychological performance, white matter integrity and antioxidant enzymes level provide early signature for diagnosis of MCI.     

轻度认知损害脑白质病变的扩散张量成像研究

目的 通过扩散张量成像(DTI)和基于体素的分析方法进行全脑部分各向异性(FA)差异性分析,尝试发现遗忘型轻度认知损害(aMCI)患者脑白质的特征性改变.方法 根据遗忘型轻度认知损害诊断标准和单项神经心理学测验(词表记忆、相似性、领悟力、连线A、图形自由回忆等),16例遗忘型轻度认知损害患者接受头部DTI,所得影像资料行基于体素的分析.并与认知功能正常者(对照组)比较全脑FA值差异性.结果 (1)对照组简易智能状态检查量表总评分为28.69±1.03,高于aMCI组的27.50 ±1.65(t=1.278.P=0.035).(2)对照组蒙特利尔认知评价量表总评分为25.85±1.52,高于aMCI组的22.50±1.91(t=0.900,P=0.000).(3)对照组词语流畅性词汇数目为(19.08±4.92)个,多于aMCI组的(15.14±4.66)个(t=0.012,P=0.043).(4)对照组词表记忆、延迟词表回忆、词语辨认、图形自由回忆测验评分分别为5.544±0.88、5.15±1.77、9.15±1.07和14.69±2.25,高于aMCI组的3.984±1.07、2.14±1.23、7.00±2.04和10.574±2.31(均P=0.000).(5)aMCI组左侧额中回、右侧额中回白质区FA值显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.001).结论 额叶白质病变可能参与遗忘型轻度认知损害的早期病理生理学过程.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment

A wide range of imaging studies provides growing support for the potential role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in evaluating microstructural white matter integrity in Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our review aims to present DTI principles, post-processing and analysis frameworks and to report the results of particular studies.The distribution of AD-related white matter abnormalities is widely discussed in the light of deteriorated connectivity within certain tracts due to secondary white matter degeneration; primary alterations are also assumed to contribute to the pattern. The question whether it is more effective to assess the whole-brain diffusion or to directly concentrate on specific regions remains an interesting issue. Assessing white matter microstructure alterations, as evaluated by group-level differences of tensor-derived parameters, may be a promising neuroimaging tool for differential diagnosis between AD, MCI and other cognitive disorders, as well as being particularly helpful in the interpretation of underlying pathological processes.     

脑白质损害和轻度认知功能损害的关系

目的 研究脑白质损害(White matter lesions,WML)对轻度认知功能损害(Mild cognitive impairment,MCI)患者认知功能的影响.方法 80例MCI患者和80例健康对照者进行常规核磁共振(MRI)及认知功能检查,对WML进行评分及分级,分析WML与认知功能的联系及MCI发病的危险因素.结果 MCI组WML的评分、年龄及中度、重度WML、总WML的比率较对照组升高,其认知功能较对照组下降,且与WML评分相关.年龄、中度WML、重度WML与MCI发病有关.结论 WML影响MCI患者的认知功能,年龄、WML是MCI发病的危险因素.     

轻度认知功能障碍与脑白质弥散张量成像的相关性研究

目的通过磁共振弥散张量成像研究不同区域脑白质损害与轻度认知功能(MCI)的关系。方法纳入2015年7月至2016年2月我院的住院患者56例为研究对象,其中MCI组34例,认知功能正常组22例。所有研究对象进行一般情况检查,完成神经心理学量表检测。通过头颅磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)检查对不同脑区白质纤维进行部分各向异性(FA)值测量。结果 MCI组患者与认知功能正常组相比,右侧额叶FA值(0.335±0.068)、左侧颞叶白质FA值(0.391±0.032)及胼胝体膝部FA值(0.658±0.053)降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。将上述FA值和MMSE、Mo CA量表中各认知域进行典型相关分析,结果显示右侧额叶白质FA值与注意与计算力呈正相关,左侧颞叶白质和胼胝体膝部FA值与记忆力呈正相关(P0.05)。结论 MCI患者注意与计算力的障碍可能与右侧额叶白质损害有关,而左侧颞叶白质及胼胝体膝部白质的损害可能导致早期的记忆障碍。DTI可能成为超早期识别与诊断MCI的新方法。     

Ultrastructural hippocampal and white matter alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to be a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), white matter structural pathology is due to Wallerian degeneration and central angiopathy. However, in MCI patients, the presence and extent of white matter alterations as a possible correlate of impaired memory function and as predictor of subsequent progression to AD is not clarified yet. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals the ultrastructural integrity of cerebral white matter tracts. Therefore, it could detect pathological processes that modify tissue integrity in patients with MCI. In our prospective study, conventional and diffusion tensor MR scans were obtained from 14 patients with MCI, 19 patients with AD, and 10 healthy controls. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital white matter regions as well as in the corpus callosum (genu and splenium) and the hippocampus. MCI patients showed higher MD values in the left centrum semiovale (p = 0.013; right: p = 0.026), in the left temporal (p = 0.006), the right temporal (p = 0.014) and the left hippocampal (p = 0.002) region as compared to the control group. FA values of MCI patients and controls did not differ significantly in any region. Compared to controls, AD patients had increased MD values in the left centrum semiovale (p = 0.012), the left parietal (p = 0.001), the right parietal (p = 0.028), the left temporal (p = 0.018), the right temporal (p = 0.011) and the left hippocampal region (p = 0.002). Decreased FA values were measured in the left temporal area (p = 0.017) and in the left hippocampus (p = 0.031) in AD patients compared to controls. FA and MD values did not differ significantly between AD and MCI patients. Elevated MD values indicating brain tissue alterations in MCI patients were found in regions that are typically involved in early changes due to AD, particularly the left hippocampus. The sensitivity of distinguishing MCI patients from controls was 71.4% (with a specificity set at 80%). Therefore, the DTI technique validates the MCI concept, and diffusion tensor MR measurement can be a helpful tool to quantify MCI pathology in vivo.     

DTI评价轻度认知障碍及轻中度阿尔茨海默病脑白质微细结构损害的研究

目的应用磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)技术研究轻度认知障碍(MCI)及轻中度阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者脑白质微细结构的改变。方法对MCI患者、轻中度AD患者各12例及健康老年人12名(对照组)行常规MRI及DTI检查,测量其胼胝体压部、额叶、顶叶、颞叶、枕叶、内囊前肢及内囊后肢白质区部分各向异性分数(FA)和平均弥散率(MD)。将3组的FA、MD值进行比较,并与MMSE评分、单词回忆及单词再认评分进行相关性分析。结果 (1)MCI患者顶叶白质FA值为0.489±0.079,与对照组(0.558±0.079)相比下降(P0.05)。(2)AD患者额叶、顶叶及颞叶FA值分别为0.405±0.072、0.454±0.069和0.363±0.056,与对照组(分别为0.499±0.081、0.558±0.079和0.440±0.061)比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。AD患者胼胝体压部、额叶及顶叶MD值分别为0.978±0.082、0.920±0.054和0.81 7±0.045,均高于对照组(分别为0.801±0.093、0.820±0.084、0.712±0.096)(P0.05)。AD、MCI两组内囊前、后肢及枕叶FA及MD值分别与健康对照组比较均无统计学差异(P0.05)。(3)3组顶叶、颞叶FA值与MMSE、单词回忆及单词再认评分均有相关性(分别r=0.869、-0.621、-0.759,均P0.01;r=0.446、-0.486、-0.361,均P0.05),胼胝体压部FA值与单词再认评分有相关性(r=-0.343,P0.05);3组胼胝体压部及顶叶MD值与MMSE、单词回忆及单词再认评分均有相关性(分别r=-0.612、0.547、0.586,均P0.01;r=-0.576、0.499、0.519,均P0.01),内囊前肢MD值与MMSE评分相关(r=-0.340,P0.05)。结论 MCI及轻中度AD患者存在脑白质选择性微细结构损害,且该损害出现在与高级皮层功能相关的脑区,而与初级功能相关的区域未见明显受损。     

Diffusion tensor imaging in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide a comprehensive review of diffusion tensor imaging in evaluating microstructural changes in the spectrum of cognitive decline from ageing to Alzheimer's disease, in particular focusing on mild cognitive impairment. RECENT FINDINGS: Mild cognitive impairment represents a transition phase between normal ageing and early Alzheimer's disease. Diffusion tensor imaging has emerged as a useful imaging modality that provides information about the structural integrity of tissue. In healthy ageing, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities occur in the frontal regions, specifically the frontal white matter, anterior cingulum and the genu of the corpus callosum. Some studies report an anterior-posterior gradient change with greater abnormalities in the genu than the splenium of the corpus callosum and in the frontal than parietal white matter. In Alzheimer's disease, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities are concentrated in the posterior regions: the parahippocampal gyrus, temporal white matter, splenium of corpus callosum and posterior cingulum. In mild cognitive impairment, changes seem to parallel those in Alzheimer's disease, with similar posterior regions showing abnormalities. SUMMARY: Due to the similarities in diffusion tensor imaging findings in both mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, it is likely that diffusion tensor imaging has the potential to emerge as a useful clinical tool for early detection and monitoring of disease progression and treatment response in mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer's disease patients.     

Diffusion tensor imaging of lesions and normal-appearing white matter in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can detect structural changes in normal-appearing white matter, and to distinguish between plaques of different pathologic severity, in patients with MS. BACKGROUND: Conventional MRI detects lesions sensitively in MS but has limited pathologic specificity. The diffusion of water molecules in brain tissue, most fully expressed mathematically by a tensor quantity, reflects its intrinsic microstructure. It is now possible to estimate the diffusion tensor noninvasively in the human brain using MR DTI. This method is unique in providing precise and rotationally invariant measurements of the amount and directional bias (anisotropy) of diffusion in white matter tracts relating to tissue integrity and orientation. METHODS: DTI was performed in six patients with MS and in six age-matched control subjects. Diffusion was characterized in normal-appearing white matter in both groups, and in lesions of different pathologic subtypes (inflammatory, noninflammatory, T1 hypointense, and T1 isointense). RESULTS: DTI identified significantly altered water diffusion properties in the normal-appearing white matter of patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.001), and distinguished between lesion types. The highest diffusion was seen in destructive (T1 hypointense) lesions, whereas the greatest change in anisotropy was found in inflammatory (gadolinium-enhancing) lesions. CONCLUSIONS: DTI detects diffuse abnormalities in the normal-appearing white matter of MS patients, and the findings in lesions appear to relate to pathologic severity. Its use in serial studies and in larger clinical cohorts may increase our understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of reversible and persistent disability.     

弥散张量成像在轻度认知功能障碍中的应用

轻度认知功能障碍（MCI）目前已经成为严重影响老年人健康的疾病,早期具有可逆性。近年来弥散张量成像（DTI）以其定量显示脑白质纤维束的优势,越来越多的应用于临床,成为了研究的热点。目前研究表明,MCI患者海马、穹隆、扣带回和胼胝体的DTI指标变化明显,可用于MCI的早期识别和病情评估及预测,且多个指标联用可能增加其准确性。MCI患者DTI表现与认知功能的下降程度具有相关性,尤其与记忆功能的相关性较为确定。MCI亚型中,遗忘型MCI （aMCI）发展为阿尔茨海默病（AD）的风险更高,其部分各向异性（FA）值越低、平均弥散度（ADC）值越高预示着转化为AD的可能性越大;DTI技术对AD与MCI患者脑白质的差异较为灵敏,AD的脑白质病变范围更广、程度更重。但目前关于DTI在MCI中的应用尚存在诸多问题,尚需进一步研究。     

Magnetic resonance imaging white matter lesions and cognitive impairment in hypertensive individuals

To search for a morphologic basis of cognitive impairment possibly associated with essential hypertension, we studied 35 otherwise asymptomatic hypertensive individuals (mean age, 38.7 years; range, 22 to 49 years) and 20 normotensive control subjects (mean age, 37.9 years; range, 26 to 49 years) using neuropsychologic tests and magnetic resonance imaging. Irrespective of drug treatment, hypertensive individuals performed significantly worse than did control subjects when assessed for verbal memory and total learning and memory capacity, while there were no differences in test results of visual memory, attention, vigilance, and reaction time. The hypertensive individuals also described themselves as less active but ranked similar on five other mood subscales. Punctate high-signal intensities of the white matter were found almost twice as often in the hypertensive group (38%) as in the control group (20%). There was no difference in test performance between hypertensive individuals with and those without white matter lesions, however. Our results confirm the presence of subtle neuropsychologic deficits and indicate a higher frequency of white matter signal abnormalities in essential hypertension, as shown on magnetic resonance imaging, but do not indicate a correlation of these findings with each other.     

阿尔茨海默病与轻度认知障碍弥散张量成像研究

目的:应用磁共振弥散张量成像技术(DTI)研究阿尔茨海默病(AD)与轻度认知障碍患者(MCI)脑白质损伤情况。方法:对21例AD患者、15例MCI患者和20名健康志愿者进行脑部DTI扫描后,测量双脑区感兴趣区的各向异性分数值(FA)且进行比较。结果:AD患者额叶、顶叶、颞叶和胼胝体的FA值与MCI组和对照组均存在显著性差异,MCI患者仅颞叶和胼胝体的FA值与对照组均存在显著性差异。结论:AD患者与MCI患者存在脑白质结构的差异,DTI技术能够在一定程度上提供MCI的早期诊断指标。