Background and Purpose -One possible mechanism of cognitive decline in individuals with subcortical vascular disease is disruption of cholinergic fibers by ischemic lesions, such as strategically located white matter ...Background and Purpose -One possible mechanism of cognitive decline in individuals with subcortical vascular disease is disruption of cholinergic fibers by ischemic lesions, such as strategically located white matter hyperintensities (WMH). The authors applied a new MRI visual rating scale to assess WMH within cholinergic pathways in patients with Alzheimer Disease (AD) and subcortical ischemic microvascular disease. Methods -Subjects included 60 AD patients with and with out WMH, matched for age, as well as 15 control subjects. A visual rating scale was developed based on published immunohistochemical tracings of the cholinergic pathways in humans. On 4 selected axial images, the severity of WMH in the chol inergic pathways was rated on a 3-point scale for ten regions, identified with major anatomical landmarks. A published, consensus-derived, general WMH scale w as also applied. All subjects underwent standardized neuropsychological testing. Results -The Cholinergic Pathways HyperIntensities Scale showed reliability an d was validated with volumetry of strategic WMH. After accounting for age and ed ucation in a multiple linear regression model, The Cholinergic Pathways Hyperint ensities Scale ratings were associated with impaired performance on the Mattis D ementia Rating Scale (r=0.40; P=0.02) and accounted for 12%of the variance (cor rected r2). A similar model was not significant for general WMH scores. Conclusi ons -The new MRI rating scale for WMH in cholinergic pathways is reliable and s hows stronger correlations with cognitive performance than a general WMH rating scale in AD with WMH. This new rating scale provides indirect evidence that loca lization of WMH within neurotransmitter systems may contribute to cognitive decl ine.展开更多
文摘Background and Purpose -One possible mechanism of cognitive decline in individuals with subcortical vascular disease is disruption of cholinergic fibers by ischemic lesions, such as strategically located white matter hyperintensities (WMH). The authors applied a new MRI visual rating scale to assess WMH within cholinergic pathways in patients with Alzheimer Disease (AD) and subcortical ischemic microvascular disease. Methods -Subjects included 60 AD patients with and with out WMH, matched for age, as well as 15 control subjects. A visual rating scale was developed based on published immunohistochemical tracings of the cholinergic pathways in humans. On 4 selected axial images, the severity of WMH in the chol inergic pathways was rated on a 3-point scale for ten regions, identified with major anatomical landmarks. A published, consensus-derived, general WMH scale w as also applied. All subjects underwent standardized neuropsychological testing. Results -The Cholinergic Pathways HyperIntensities Scale showed reliability an d was validated with volumetry of strategic WMH. After accounting for age and ed ucation in a multiple linear regression model, The Cholinergic Pathways Hyperint ensities Scale ratings were associated with impaired performance on the Mattis D ementia Rating Scale (r=0.40; P=0.02) and accounted for 12%of the variance (cor rected r2). A similar model was not significant for general WMH scores. Conclusi ons -The new MRI rating scale for WMH in cholinergic pathways is reliable and s hows stronger correlations with cognitive performance than a general WMH rating scale in AD with WMH. This new rating scale provides indirect evidence that loca lization of WMH within neurotransmitter systems may contribute to cognitive decl ine.
