White Matter Alterations in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: a Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare white matter (WM) structural alterations between the subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is a transitional state to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and healthy elderly controls. Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans of 20 subjects with amnestic MCI and 20 healthy control groups who are matched by age, gender, and education with the MCI group between 2011 and 2016 were examined by in this retrospective study. WM structural integrity was analyzed using tract- based spatial statistics (TBSS) for voxel-based differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) between the two groups. Results: Fractional anisotropy was found significantly lower in the forceps minor, the body and genu of the corpus callosum, the right anterior thalamic radiation, the right cingulum, the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, the right superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the right superior corona radiata in the MCI group than the control group. Conclusion: TBSS analysis is a promising method to examine structural WM integrity. These findings suggested that the DTI measurements may be useful for the detection of preclinical changes in AD.