Altered cerebellar and caudate gray‐matter volumes and structural covariance networks preceding dual cognitive and mobility impairments in older people

• Published in: Alzheimer's & dementia Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 2420 - 2433
• Main Authors: Lee, Pei‐Lin, Chou, Kun‐Hsien, Lee, Wei‐Ju, Peng, Li‐Ning, Chen, Liang‐Kung, Lin, Ching‐Po, Liang, Chih‐Kuang, Chung, Chih‐Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Brain; Brain research; caudate; cerebello‐frontal network; Cerebellum; Cerebellum - diagnostic imaging; cerebellum crus II; cerebellum VIII; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ‐ III‐ revised version (DSM‐III‐R); dual cognitive and mobility decline; Female; Frailty; Gray Matter - diagnostic imaging; gray‐matter volume; Humans; Longitudinal studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical imaging; Mobility; Morphology; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychology; Older people; physio‐cognitive decline syndrome; Precursors; Sarcopenia; structural covariance; subcortical network; Transformation; Working groups; Japan; cerebello‐frontal network; cerebellum VIII; structural covariance; subcortical network; gray‐matter volume; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ‐ III‐ revised version (DSM‐III‐R); cerebellum crus II; physio‐cognitive decline syndrome; caudate; dual cognitive and mobility decline
• ISSN: 1552-5260; 1552-5279; 1552-5279
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.13714

INTRODUCTION The neuroanatomical changes driving both cognitive and mobility impairments, an emerging preclinical dementia syndrome, are not fully understood. We examined gray‐matter volumes (GMVs) and structural covariance networks (SCNs) abnormalities in community‐based older people preceding the conversion to physio‐cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS). METHODS Voxel‐wise brain GMV and established SCNs were compared between PCDS and non‐PCDS converters. RESULTS The study included 343 individuals (60.2 ± 6.9 years, 49.6% men) with intact cognitive and mobility functions. Over an average 5.6‐year follow‐up, 116 transitioned to PCDS. Identified regions with abnormal GMVs in PCDS converters were over cerebellum and caudate, which served as seeds for SCNs establishment. Significant differences in cerebellum‐based (to right frontal pole and left middle frontal gyrus) and caudate‐based SCNs (to right caudate putamen, right planum temporale, left precentral gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and left parietal operculum) between converters and nonconverters were observed. DISCUSSION This study reveals early neuroanatomic changes, emphasizing the cerebellum's role, in dual cognitive and mobility impairments. Highlights Neuroanatomic precursors of dual cognitive and mobility impairments are identified. Cerebellar GMV reductions and increased right caudate GMV precede the onset of PCDS. Altered cerebellum‐ and caudate‐based SCNs drive PCDS transformation. This research establishes a foundation for understanding PCDS as a specific dementia syndrome.