Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions

Na Wei; Yufei Wei; Yuexiu Li; Decai Tian; Hongyan Chen; Yumei Zhang

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

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Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions

Na Wei, Yufei Wei, Yuexiu Li, Decai Tian, Hongyan Chen, Yumei Zhang

Published in Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience (Volume 6, Issue 2)

Received: 8 June 2022 Accepted: 27 June 2022 Published: 5 July 2022

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Abstract

White matter lesions (WMLs) are closely related with cognitive impairment and dementia. It has been hypothesized that cognitive impairment is related to cortical atrophy and cortical thickness network measurements in certain brain regions. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cortical thickness in patients with WMLs and the relationship that these characteristics have with cognitive function. In this study, 76 WML patients and 37 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled and underwent a T1-weighted 3-D MRI scan using a 3.0-Tesla scanner. According to cognitive assessment results, the WML patients were divided into two subgroups, namely the WMLs with non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment (WML-VCIND) group and the WMLs with vascular dementia (WML-VaD) group. Cortical surface thickness was estimated using FreeSurfer software. The correlation between cognitive function and cortical thickness in WML patients was analyzed. We found that MoCA scores and executive function were significantly decreased in WML-VCIND and WML-VaD patients compared to the HC group (P < 0.0001). Significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left precentral, caudal middle frontal, rostral middle frontal, superior frontal, middle temporal, transverse temporal, insula, bilateral pars opercularis, and superior temporal regions was found in the WML-VaD group compared to the HC group (P < 0.05). The reduced cortical thickness of the above gyrus was positively correlated with executive function in WML patients. These cross-sectional results suggest that decreased cortex thickness in certain gyri in WML patients might lead to cognitive decline. The correlation between cortical thickness changes and cognitive function holds promise for understanding the underlying causes of cognitive impairment in WMLs.

Published in	Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience (Volume 6, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
Page(s)	29-36
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

White Matter Lesions, Cognition, Cortical Thickness, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

References

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APA Style

Na Wei, Yufei Wei, Yuexiu Li, Decai Tian, Hongyan Chen, et al. (2022). Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions. Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience, 6(2), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

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ACS Style

Na Wei; Yufei Wei; Yuexiu Li; Decai Tian; Hongyan Chen, et al. Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions. Clin. Neurol. Neurosci. 2022, 6(2), 29-36. doi: 10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

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AMA Style

Na Wei, Yufei Wei, Yuexiu Li, Decai Tian, Hongyan Chen, et al. Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions. Clin Neurol Neurosci. 2022;6(2):29-36. doi: 10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

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@article{10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12,
  author = {Na Wei and Yufei Wei and Yuexiu Li and Decai Tian and Hongyan Chen and Yumei Zhang},
  title = {Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions},
  journal = {Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience},
  volume = {6},
  number = {2},
  pages = {29-36},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cnn.20220602.12},
  abstract = {White matter lesions (WMLs) are closely related with cognitive impairment and dementia. It has been hypothesized that cognitive impairment is related to cortical atrophy and cortical thickness network measurements in certain brain regions. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cortical thickness in patients with WMLs and the relationship that these characteristics have with cognitive function. In this study, 76 WML patients and 37 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled and underwent a T1-weighted 3-D MRI scan using a 3.0-Tesla scanner. According to cognitive assessment results, the WML patients were divided into two subgroups, namely the WMLs with non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment (WML-VCIND) group and the WMLs with vascular dementia (WML-VaD) group. Cortical surface thickness was estimated using FreeSurfer software. The correlation between cognitive function and cortical thickness in WML patients was analyzed. We found that MoCA scores and executive function were significantly decreased in WML-VCIND and WML-VaD patients compared to the HC group (P < 0.0001). Significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left precentral, caudal middle frontal, rostral middle frontal, superior frontal, middle temporal, transverse temporal, insula, bilateral pars opercularis, and superior temporal regions was found in the WML-VaD group compared to the HC group (P < 0.05). The reduced cortical thickness of the above gyrus was positively correlated with executive function in WML patients. These cross-sectional results suggest that decreased cortex thickness in certain gyri in WML patients might lead to cognitive decline. The correlation between cortical thickness changes and cognitive function holds promise for understanding the underlying causes of cognitive impairment in WMLs.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions
AU  - Na Wei
AU  - Yufei Wei
AU  - Yuexiu Li
AU  - Decai Tian
AU  - Hongyan Chen
AU  - Yumei Zhang
Y1  - 2022/07/05
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
T2  - Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience
JF  - Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience
JO  - Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience
SP  - 29
EP  - 36
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8930
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
AB  - White matter lesions (WMLs) are closely related with cognitive impairment and dementia. It has been hypothesized that cognitive impairment is related to cortical atrophy and cortical thickness network measurements in certain brain regions. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cortical thickness in patients with WMLs and the relationship that these characteristics have with cognitive function. In this study, 76 WML patients and 37 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled and underwent a T1-weighted 3-D MRI scan using a 3.0-Tesla scanner. According to cognitive assessment results, the WML patients were divided into two subgroups, namely the WMLs with non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment (WML-VCIND) group and the WMLs with vascular dementia (WML-VaD) group. Cortical surface thickness was estimated using FreeSurfer software. The correlation between cognitive function and cortical thickness in WML patients was analyzed. We found that MoCA scores and executive function were significantly decreased in WML-VCIND and WML-VaD patients compared to the HC group (P < 0.0001). Significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left precentral, caudal middle frontal, rostral middle frontal, superior frontal, middle temporal, transverse temporal, insula, bilateral pars opercularis, and superior temporal regions was found in the WML-VaD group compared to the HC group (P < 0.05). The reduced cortical thickness of the above gyrus was positively correlated with executive function in WML patients. These cross-sectional results suggest that decreased cortex thickness in certain gyri in WML patients might lead to cognitive decline. The correlation between cortical thickness changes and cognitive function holds promise for understanding the underlying causes of cognitive impairment in WMLs.
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Na Wei

Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Yufei Wei

Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Yuexiu Li

Department of Rehabilitation, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Decai Tian

Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Hongyan Chen

Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Yumei Zhang

Department of Rehabilitation, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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APA Style

Na Wei, Yufei Wei, Yuexiu Li, Decai Tian, Hongyan Chen, et al. (2022). Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions. Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience, 6(2), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

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ACS Style

Na Wei; Yufei Wei; Yuexiu Li; Decai Tian; Hongyan Chen, et al. Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions. Clin. Neurol. Neurosci. 2022, 6(2), 29-36. doi: 10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

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AMA Style

Na Wei, Yufei Wei, Yuexiu Li, Decai Tian, Hongyan Chen, et al. Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions. Clin Neurol Neurosci. 2022;6(2):29-36. doi: 10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12,
  author = {Na Wei and Yufei Wei and Yuexiu Li and Decai Tian and Hongyan Chen and Yumei Zhang},
  title = {Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions},
  journal = {Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience},
  volume = {6},
  number = {2},
  pages = {29-36},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cnn.20220602.12},
  abstract = {White matter lesions (WMLs) are closely related with cognitive impairment and dementia. It has been hypothesized that cognitive impairment is related to cortical atrophy and cortical thickness network measurements in certain brain regions. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cortical thickness in patients with WMLs and the relationship that these characteristics have with cognitive function. In this study, 76 WML patients and 37 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled and underwent a T1-weighted 3-D MRI scan using a 3.0-Tesla scanner. According to cognitive assessment results, the WML patients were divided into two subgroups, namely the WMLs with non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment (WML-VCIND) group and the WMLs with vascular dementia (WML-VaD) group. Cortical surface thickness was estimated using FreeSurfer software. The correlation between cognitive function and cortical thickness in WML patients was analyzed. We found that MoCA scores and executive function were significantly decreased in WML-VCIND and WML-VaD patients compared to the HC group (P < 0.0001). Significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left precentral, caudal middle frontal, rostral middle frontal, superior frontal, middle temporal, transverse temporal, insula, bilateral pars opercularis, and superior temporal regions was found in the WML-VaD group compared to the HC group (P < 0.05). The reduced cortical thickness of the above gyrus was positively correlated with executive function in WML patients. These cross-sectional results suggest that decreased cortex thickness in certain gyri in WML patients might lead to cognitive decline. The correlation between cortical thickness changes and cognitive function holds promise for understanding the underlying causes of cognitive impairment in WMLs.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Changes in Cortical Thickness Are Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with White Matter Lesions
AU  - Na Wei
AU  - Yufei Wei
AU  - Yuexiu Li
AU  - Decai Tian
AU  - Hongyan Chen
AU  - Yumei Zhang
Y1  - 2022/07/05
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
T2  - Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience
JF  - Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience
JO  - Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience
SP  - 29
EP  - 36
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8930
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cnn.20220602.12
AB  - White matter lesions (WMLs) are closely related with cognitive impairment and dementia. It has been hypothesized that cognitive impairment is related to cortical atrophy and cortical thickness network measurements in certain brain regions. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cortical thickness in patients with WMLs and the relationship that these characteristics have with cognitive function. In this study, 76 WML patients and 37 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled and underwent a T1-weighted 3-D MRI scan using a 3.0-Tesla scanner. According to cognitive assessment results, the WML patients were divided into two subgroups, namely the WMLs with non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment (WML-VCIND) group and the WMLs with vascular dementia (WML-VaD) group. Cortical surface thickness was estimated using FreeSurfer software. The correlation between cognitive function and cortical thickness in WML patients was analyzed. We found that MoCA scores and executive function were significantly decreased in WML-VCIND and WML-VaD patients compared to the HC group (P < 0.0001). Significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left precentral, caudal middle frontal, rostral middle frontal, superior frontal, middle temporal, transverse temporal, insula, bilateral pars opercularis, and superior temporal regions was found in the WML-VaD group compared to the HC group (P < 0.05). The reduced cortical thickness of the above gyrus was positively correlated with executive function in WML patients. These cross-sectional results suggest that decreased cortex thickness in certain gyri in WML patients might lead to cognitive decline. The correlation between cortical thickness changes and cognitive function holds promise for understanding the underlying causes of cognitive impairment in WMLs.
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
ER  -

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