Abstract #4371

Microscopic diffusion anisotropy as a predictor of cognitive decline in asymptomatic adults

Hyeong-Geol Shin^1,2, Sarvin Sasannia^1,3, Sarara Mahmud³, Mykola Matsyuk³, Shimeng Wang⁴, Jinwei Zhang⁵, Filip Szczepankiewicz⁶, Xu Li^1,2, Jerry Prince⁵, Linda Knutsson^1,3,6, Peter van Zijl^1,2,4, and Paul Nyquist³

¹F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, ²Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, ³Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁴Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁵Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁶Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Synopsis

Keywords: Dementia, Dementia

Motivation: Conventional diffusion MRI metrics like FA have limitations in assessing WMH lesions due to fiber orientation dispersion.

Goal(s): To improve MRI sensitivity to white matter integrity in WMH and assess its clinical relevance in predicting preclinical cognitive decline using advanced diffusion MRI.

Approach: FA and μFA maps were acquired in 54 adults using tensor-valued diffusion MRI and their quantitative correlation with cognitive decline were evaluated in WMH lesion and penumbra.

Results: While both μFA and FA differentiated WMH from other white matter regions, μFA demonstrated greater sensitivity to predict cognitive decline, suggesting its added specificity to probe white matter integrity in WMH.

Impact: Enhanced sensitivity of μFA to subtle white matter integrity and clinical aspect may offer better understanding of underlying histopathological alterations in white WMH, helping earlier detection of cerebrovascular pathology and aiding efforts to identify at-risk individuals and guide timely interventions.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.