White Matter Microstructural Integrity and Executive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Recent studies suggest that white matter abnormalities contribute to both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The present study was designed to investigate the degree to which diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) indices are related to executive function in Parkins...

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Published in:Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 2013-03, Vol.19 (3), p.349-354
Main Authors: Gallagher, Catherine, Bell, Brian, Bendlin, Barbara, Palotti, Matthew, Okonkwo, Ozioma, Sodhi, Aparna, Wong, Rachel, Buyan-Dent, Laura, Johnson, Sterling, Wilette, Auriel, Harding, Sandra, Ninman, Nancy, Kastman, Erik, Alexander, Andrew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Anisotropy
Brain - pathology
Brief Communication
Case-Control Studies
Cognition Disorders - etiology
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Executive Function - physiology
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Male
Middle Aged
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - pathology
Neuropsychological Tests
Parkinson Disease - complications
Parkinson Disease - pathology
Parkinson's disease
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Summary:Recent studies suggest that white matter abnormalities contribute to both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The present study was designed to investigate the degree to which diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) indices are related to executive function in Parkinson's patients. We used tract-based spatial statistics to compare DTI data from 15 patients to 15 healthy, age- and education-matched controls. We then extracted mean values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) within an a priori frontal mask. Executive function composite Z scores were regressed against these DTI indices, age, and total intracranial volume. In Parkinson's patients, FA was related to executive composite scores, and both indices were related to Stroop interference scores. We conclude that white matter microstructural abnormalities contribute to cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease. Further work is needed to determine whether these white matter changes reflect the pathological process or a clinically important comorbidity. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–6)
ISSN:1355-6177
1469-7661
DOI:10.1017/S1355617712001373