여성 경도인지장애 및 알츠하이머병 환자군에서 확산텐서영상 지표들과 인지기능과의 관련성분석

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurocognitive disorder presented with short-term memory impairment, and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is known to be a precursor condition of AD. Although atrophy and degeneration of the gray matter are known as major pathologies of AD, white matter abnormalities in AD may occur independently of gray matter abnormalities, and possibily precede gray matter degeneration. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between white matter microstructural integrity and the degree of cognitive deteriorations in female patients with aMCI and AD, using the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data. Diffusion tensor images of 20 patients with AD, 86 patients with aMCI, and 193 cognitively normal participants were downloaded from the ADNI database. Parameters of diffusion tensor imaging were compared between groups. Amnestic MCI patients showed significantly disrupted hite matter integrity in the frontal commissural tracts, uncinated fasciculus, and superficial temporal tract group compared to the normal control group. These degenerative changes were also associated with cognitive functioning especially in patients with MCI. In AD group, the results were inconsistent. Diffusion tensor imaging indicators may have the potential to be clues to identify early stages of cognitive impairment. Follow-up researchs of relationship between white matter disruption and cognitive impairment in AD would be needed.