Abstract #1596

T1w/FLAIR-ratio as a predictor for cognition in a large population cohort: Findings from The Maastricht Study

Gerhard S. Drenthen^1,2, Walter H. Backes^1,2, Sebastian Köhler^2,3,4, Miranda T. Schram^2,5, Willemijn J. Jansen^2,3,4, and Jacobus F.A. Jansen^1,2,6

¹Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands, ²Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs) Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, ³Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, ⁴Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, ⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, ⁶Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Synopsis

Keywords: White Matter, Neuro, Myelin; cognition; predictor

Motivation: Myelin can be a useful predictor of disease progression and cognitive decline, however it requires dedicated MRI sequences. The T1w/FLAIR-ratio, which is more readily available, has previously been introduced as a proxy for the myelin content.

Goal(s): To assess whether the T1w/FLAIR myelin proxy is a better predictor for cognition compared to other established MRI markers (i.e. grey matter volume, white matter hyperintensity load and fractional anisotropy).

Approach: The T1w/FLAIR-ratio is calculated in a large (n=4525) population sample, and predictive value is assessed using linear regression models.

Results: The T1w/FLAIR-ratio is a better predictor of cognitive decline compared to other established MRI-markers.

Impact: The T1w/FLAIR-ratio can be used as a proxy for the myelin content. Here, we showed in a large population-based sample, that the T1w/FLAIR-ratio is a better predictor for cognition compared to atrophy, white matter lesion burden and microstructure.

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