Grey matter atrophy, functional connectivity and behavioral signatures of mild cognitive impairment
Poster No:
233
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Damien Marie1,2,3, Dimitra Kokkinou2,3, Chantal Junker-Tschopp4, Gilles Allali5, Matthias Kliegel3,6, Andrea Brioschi Guevara5, Giovanni B. Frisoni7, Clara E. James2,3
Institutions:
1CIBM MRI UNIGE, Geneva, Switzerland, 2Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO, Geneva, Switzerland, 3Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 4Geneva School of Social work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO, Geneva, Switzerland, 5Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, 6Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 7Memory Center, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
First Author:
Damien Marie
CIBM MRI UNIGE|Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO|Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
CIBM MRI UNIGE|Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO|Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Co-Author(s):
Dimitra Kokkinou
Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO|Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO|Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Chantal Junker-Tschopp
Geneva School of Social work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva School of Social work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO
Geneva, Switzerland
Gilles Allali
Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Matthias Kliegel
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva|Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva|Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Andrea Brioschi Guevara
Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Giovanni B. Frisoni
Memory Center, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland
Memory Center, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland
Clara E. James
Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO|Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva School of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO|Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland|Geneva, Switzerland
Introduction:
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a common pathology among older adults (10-20% of 65 years old and more [1]), represents a cognitive state between normal aging and dementia. This minor age-related loss of cognitive ability does not importantly impact daily life functioning. Cognitive impairments (memory, attention, spatial orientation, or executive functions [2]) and increased fall risk occur. While a minority of MCI patients may stay stable or recover to some extent [3], most convert to dementia [3, 4]. Yet, regular cognitive training can boost or maintain cognitive and brain functions. Music or psychomotor training has been associated with cognitive benefits in MCI patients [5, 6]. This study is part of a randomized controlled trial comparing the influence of those interventions on brain and behavior over 6 months in MCI patients [7]. Here, we take advantage of trial baseline data to independently evaluate behavioral, grey matter volume, and resting-state functional connectivity differences between a group of 32 MCI patients and 17 gender- and age-matched controls at baseline.
Methods:
60-80 years old participants were recruited (MCI: 71.2 ± 7.2 years old, 66% ♀; controls: 70.7 ± 4.5 years old, 71% ♀). MCI diagnosis was performed by hospital memory clinics, excluding serious physical/mental comorbidities (Mini-Mental State Examination < 24 or Montreal-Cognitive-Assessment-Test < 18, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale < 15). We evaluated group differences in 1 questionnaire and 7 behavioral tests, including the COGTEL [8], a global measure of cognitive function covering prospective memory, short- and long-term verbal memory, working memory, verbal fluency, and inductive reasoning. 3 T Siemens Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data acquisition included structural imaging (MP2RAGE, 1 mm isotropic voxel size) and resting-state functional MRI (2.5 mm isotropic voxel size, repetition time = 1.350 s, 440 volumes). Whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (grey matter volume maps) and seed-based functional connectivity were computed with SPM12 CAT12 and CONN toolboxes, respectively. We selected 9 seeds based on the results of a meta-analysis of MCI correlates [9]. Multiple comparison corrections were applied in all analyses.
Results:
We report significant lower performances in MCI patients as compared to healthy controls for the COGTEL weighted score (Figure 1, MCI patients: 21.97 ± 7.6, controls: 32.5 ± 7.9, F(39) = 18.31, p < 0.0002), the Trail-Making Test A (MCI patients: 60.5 ± 33.5, controls: 38.4 ± 7.6, χ2(1) = 8.7, p < 0.003) and B (MCI patients: 129.3 ± 62.7, controls: 83 ± 17.6, χ2(1) = 6.4, p < 0.02, increased time indicates lower performance), the D2-R correct target score (MCI patients: 78.5 ± 35.2, controls: 118.9 ± 19.0, F(39) = 17.6, p < 0.0002), the binaural speech in noise perception (MCI patients: -4.3 ± 1.1, controls: -6.0 ± 1.36, F(29) = 12.8, p < 0.0002, lower SRT indicates better performance) and the right foot unilateral balance test performance (MCI patients: 18.7 ± 15.8, controls: 56.3 ± 47.7, F(36) = 8.2, p = 0.006). The analysis of GM volume in MCI patients as compared to healthy controls (C > MCI) revealed a widespread pattern of atrophy in patients (Figure 2, p < 0.001, uncorrected, k = 150 voxels). 3 clusters centered on the left, right hippocampus, and the mid cerebellum are significant at p < 0.05 FWE (cluster-level). Finally, decreased functional connectivity associated with 3 seeds, corresponding to the left angular gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, and left putamen (Figure 2, p < 0.05 FDR), was detected in patients as compared to controls.
Conclusions:
These results enrich the anamnesis of MCI cognitive deficits and confirm the importance of the inferior temporal lobe in MCI pathology. Further evaluation of relationships between behavior, grey matter volume, and functional connectivity will be performed in the hope of refining MCI diagnosis and establishing new psychometric/neural biomarkers.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodegenerative/ Late Life (eg. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s) 1
Learning and Memory:
Neural Plasticity and Recovery of Function
Lifespan Development:
Aging 2
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
fMRI Connectivity and Network Modeling
Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Metabolism and Neurotransmission:
Cortical Anatomy and Brain Mapping
Keywords:
Aging
Cognition
Degenerative Disease
Development
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Memory
Morphometrics
STRUCTURAL MRI
Other - mild cognitive impairment
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Provide references using author date format
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4. Busse, A., et al., Mild cognitive impairment: long-term course of four clinical subtypes. Neurology, 2006. 67(12): p. 2176-85.
5. Ito, E., et al., The Effect of Music-Based Intervention on General Cognitive and Executive Functions, and Episodic Memory in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recent Randomized Controlled Trials. Healthcare (Basel), 2022. 10(8).
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