Article
Clinical Neurology
Malo Gaubert, Catharina Lange, Antoine Garnier-Crussard, Theresa Kobe, Salma Bougacha, Julie Gonneaud, Robin de Flores, Clemence Tomadesso, Florence Mezenge, Brigitte Landeau, Vincent de la Sayette, Gael Chetelat, Miranka Wirth
Summary: This study found that local white matter damage is correlated with multimodal brain biomarkers of AD. The results highlight modality-specific topographic patterns of WMH, which converged in the posterior white matter. Overall, these cross-sectional findings corroborate associations of regional WMH with AD-typical Ass deposition and neurodegeneration.
ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Karin L. Meeker, Omar H. Butt, Brian A. Gordon, Anne M. Fagan, Suzanne E. Schindler, John C. Morris, Tammie L. S. Benzinger, Beau M. Ances
Summary: CSF NfL is a non-specific marker of aging and white matter integrity, and is more strongly associated with total white matter hyperintensity volume than with gray or white matter volume. Age and white matter hyperintensity volume are consistently more important predictors of CSF NfL than AD markers.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Michael L. Alosco, Yorghos Tripodis, Zachary H. Baucom, Charles H. Adler, Laura J. Balcer, Charles Bernick, Megan L. Mariani, Rhoda Au, Sarah J. Banks, William B. Barr, Jennifer Wethe, Robert C. Cantu, Michael J. Coleman, David W. Dodick, Michael D. McClean, Ann C. McKee, Jesse Mez, Joseph N. Palmisano, Brett Martin, Kaitlin Hartlage, Alexander P. Lin, Inga K. Koerte, Jeffrey L. Cummings, Eric M. Reiman, Robert A. Stern, Martha E. Shenton, Sylvain Bouix
Summary: This study examined the burden and distribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in former American football players and found that older players had greater WMH, which were associated with younger age of first exposure to football and worse cognitive function.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleonora Ficiara, Ilaria Stura, Caterina Guiot
Summary: Alterations in iron homeostasis during aging can lead to increased iron levels and oxidative damage. Abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain has been proposed as a biomarker for neurodegeneration, but there is uncertainty regarding the link between brain iron accumulation and aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Antoine Garnier-Crussard, Francois Cotton, Pierre Krolak-Salmon, Gael Chetelat
Summary: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are vascular lesions frequently seen in older adults, but recent evidence suggests that non-vascular mechanisms, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD), may also contribute to WMH. This alternative hypothesis is supported by arguments from neuropathology, neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers, and genetics. The underlying mechanisms of AD-related WMH, such as neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation, are discussed, as well as the implications for AD diagnosis and management. Testing this hypothesis and addressing remaining challenges can improve personalized care for patients.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Ahmed A. Bahrani, Erin L. Abner, Charles S. DeCarli, Justin M. Barber, Abigail C. Sutton, Pauline Maillard, Francisco Sandoval, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Yung-Chuan Yang, Arnold M. Evia, Julie A. Schneider, Mohamad Habes, Crystal G. Franklin, Sudha Seshadri, Claudia L. Satizabal, Arvind Caprihan, Jeffrey F. Thompson, Gary A. Rosenberg, Danny J. J. Wang, Kay Jann, Chenyang Zhao, Hanzhang Lu, Paul B. Rosenberg, Marilyn S. Albert, Doaa G. Ali, Herpreet Singh, Kristin Schwab, Steven M. Greenberg, Karl G. Helmer, David K. Powel, Brian T. Gold, Larry B. Goldstein, Donna M. Wilcock, Gregory A. Jicha
Summary: This study evaluated a neuroimaging biomarker for tracking white matter hyperintensity (WMH) changes and demonstrated its validity and reliability in clinical trials. The results showed that the protocol accurately measured WMH growth and regression, which were associated with cognitive function.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sarah K. Royse, Beth E. Snitz, James B. Hengenius, Theodore J. Huppert, Rebecca E. Roush, Rebecca E. Ehrenkranz, James D. Wilson, Marnie Bertolet, Alexandria C. Reese, Geraldine Cisneros, Katey Potopenko, James T. Becker, Ann D. Cohen, C. Elizabeth Shaaban
Summary: This study suggests that white matter hyperintensities may contribute to clinical disparities in Alzheimer's disease between Black American and non-Hispanic White populations. By measuring unhealthy white matter connectivity, researchers found that the association between white matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer's disease pathology-affected regions and cognition differs between racialized groups, which may partially explain the higher clinical burden of Alzheimer's disease in Black American populations.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Carola Mayer, Felix L. Naegele, Marvin Petersen, Benedikt M. Frey, Uta Hanning, Ofer Pasternak, Elina Petersen, Christian Gerloff, Goetz Thomalla, Bastian Cheng
Summary: This study investigated microstructural brain alterations in white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and their association with cerebrovascular risk factors. The use of free-water imaging corrected contamination of diffusion-weighted MRI-derived metrics. The study found a significant association between smoking and free-water in NAWM, and between smoking and fractional anisotropy in WMH and NAWM, while diabetes and hypertension showed no association.
JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Elveda Gozdas, Hannah Fingerhut, Lauren Dacorro, Jennifer L. Bruno, S. M. Hadi Hosseini
Summary: Aging is associated with reduced neurite density and orientation dispersion in both cortical and white matter regions. Additionally, a widespread age-related decrease in neurite density along major white matter tracts was found in healthy older adults. Significant neurite morphology deficits in memory networks were also observed in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Valenza, Roberta Facchinetti, Luca Steardo, Caterina Scuderi
Summary: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a naturally occurring amide compound with analgesic, neuroprotective, immune-modulating, and anti-inflammatory effects. Recent studies have shown that PEA promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation, which is crucial for myelin formation. PEA has therapeutic potential in restoring white matter defects.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Milan Nemy, Martin Dyrba, Frederic Brosseron, Katharina Buerger, Peter Dechent, Laura Dobisch, Michael Ewers, Klaus Fliessbach, Wenzel Glanz, Doreen Goerss, Michael T. Heneka, Stefan Hetzer, Enise I. Incesoy, Daniel Janowitz, Ingo Kilimann, Christoph Laske, Franziska Maier, Matthias H. Munk, Robert Perneczky, Oliver Peters, Lukas Preis, Josef Priller, Boris-Stephan Rauchmann, Sandra Roeske, Nina Roy, Klaus Scheffler, Anja Schneider, Bjorn H. Schott, Annika Spottke, Eike J. Spruth, Michael Wagner, Jens Wiltfang, Renat Yakupov, Maria Eriksdotter, Eric Westman, Olga Stepankova, Lenka Vyslouzilova, Emrah Duezel, Frank Jessen, Stefan J. Teipel, Daniel Ferreira
Summary: Nemy et al. investigate cholinergic white matter projections along the Alzheimer's disease continuum, finding that alterations in these pathways are present in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. These alterations precede the more widespread changes seen in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease dementia. The study highlights the potential of using cholinergic white matter pathways as markers for the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Abhishek Jaywant, Katharine Dunlop, Lindsay W. Victoria, Lauren Oberlin, Charles J. Lynch, Matteo Respino, Amy Kuceyeski, Matthew Scult, Matthew J. Hoptman, Conor Liston, Michael W. O'Dell, George S. Alexopoulos, Roy H. Perlis, Faith M. Gunning
Summary: The relationship between WMH and cognitive functioning in older adults was investigated. The study found that the disruption to white matter fiber tracts from WMH and its impact on specific brain networks were associated with delayed recall, highlighting the importance of network-level structural and functional alterations in resting state networks for memory in older adults.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Chin Hong Tan, Justin Chew, Liwen Zhang, Balazs Gulyas, Christopher Chen
Summary: The independent effects of global white matter hyperintensities and regional beta-amyloid on regional cortical thickness are spatially different, mainly converging in temporal regions.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Katharine E. Askew, Joshua Beverley, Emma Sigfridsson, Stefan Szymkowiak, Katherine Emelianova, Owen Dando, Giles E. Hardingham, Jessica Duncombe, Edel Hennessy, Juraj Koudelka, Neshika Samarasekera, Rustam Al-Shahi Salman, Colin Smith, Adriana A. S. Tavares, Diego Gomez-Nicola, Raj N. Kalaria, Barry W. Mccoll, Karen Horsburgh
Summary: White matter abnormalities, related to poor cerebral perfusion, are a core feature of small vessel cerebrovascular disease and critical determinants of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Inhibition of microglial proliferation may protect against chronic cerebrovascular white matter pathology and cognitive deficits.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Michelle C. Johansen, Rebecca F. Gottesman, Brian G. Kral, Dhananjay Vaidya, Lisa R. Yanek, Lewis C. Becker, Diane M. Becker, Paul Nyquist
Summary: In healthy high-risk individuals, the presence and volume of coronary artery plaque are associated with larger WMH volumes, appearing the strongest for periventricular WMH. These findings in high-risk families suggest a disease relationship in 2 different vascular beds, possibly due to genetic predisposition.