Concurrent white and gray matter degeneration of disease-specific networks in early-stage Alzheimer's disease and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

Journal article (2016)

Authors

Rozanna Meijboom Erasmus MC
Marius de Groot Erasmus MC
Esther E. Bron Erasmus MC
W.J. Niessen ImPhys/Imaging Physics , ImPhys/Quantitative Imaging , Erasmus MC
Aad van der Lugt Erasmus MC
John C. van Swieten Erasmus MC
Marion Smits Erasmus MC
Research Group
ImPhys/Quantitative Imaging
Alzheimer's disease Diffusion tensor imaging Arterial spin labeling Structural MRI Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

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Research Group

ImPhys/Quantitative Imaging

Abstract

This study investigates regional coherence between white matter (WM) microstructure and gray matter (GM) volume and perfusion measures in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) using a correlational approach. WM-GM coherence, compared with controls, was stronger between cingulum WM and frontotemporal GM in AD, and temporoparietal GM in bvFTD. In addition, in AD compared with controls, coherence was stronger between inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus WM microstructure and occipital GM perfusion. In this first study assessing regional WM-GM coherence in AD and bvFTD, we show that WM microstructure and GM volume and perfusion measures are coherent, particularly in regions implicated in AD and bvFTD pathology. This indicates concurrent degeneration in disease-specific networks. Our methodology allows for the detection of incipient abnormalities that go undetected in conventional between-group analyses.