Ming-Liang Wang, Meng-Meng Yu, Wen-Bin Li and Yue-Hua Li* Pages 8 - 13 ( 6 )
<P>Background: White matter (WM) beta-amyloid uptake has been used as a reference region to calculate the cortical standard uptake value ratio (SUVr). However, white matter hyperintensities (WMH) may have an influence on WM beta-amyloid uptake. Our study aimed to investigate the associations between WMH and WM beta-amyloid deposition in cognitively unimpaired elderly. </P><P> Methods: Data from 83 cognitively unimpaired individuals in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset were analyzed. All participants had complete baseline and four-year follow-up information about WMH volume, WM 18F-AV-45 SUVr, and cognitive function, including ADNI-Memory (ADNI-Mem) and ADNI-Executive function (ADNI-EF) scores. Cross-sectional and longitudinal linear regression analyses were used to determine the associations between WMH and WM SUVr and cognitive measures. </P><P> Results: Lower WM 18F-AV-45 SUVr at baseline was associated with younger age (β=0.01, P=0.037) and larger WMH volume (β=-0.049, P=0.048). The longitudinal analysis found an annual increase in WM 18F-AV-45 SUVr was associated with an annual decrease in WMH volume (β=-0.016, P=0.041). An annual decrease in the ADNI-Mem score was associated with an annual increase in WMH volume (β=-0.070, P=0.001), an annual decrease in WM 18F-AV-45 SUVr (β=0.559, P=0.030), and fewer years of education (β=0.011, P=0.044). There was no significant association between WM 18F-AV-45 SUVr and ADNI-EF (P>0.05). </P><P> Conclusion: Reduced beta-amyloid deposition in WM was associated with higher WMH load and memory decline in cognitively unimpaired elderly. WMH volume should be considered when WM 18F-AV-45 SUVr is used as a reference for evaluating cortical 18F-AV-45 SUVr.</P>
White matter hyperintensities, white matter beta-amyloid, cognitive function, cognitive impairment, memory dysfunction, hyperlipidemia.
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233