Correlation between degree of white matter hyperintensities and global gray matter volume decline rate

• Published in: Neuroradiology Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. 397 - 403
• Main Authors: Taki, Yasuyuki, Kinomura, Shigeo, Sato, Kazunori, Goto, Ryoi, Wu, Kai, Kawashima, Ryuta, Fukuda, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Brain - pathology; Diagnostic Neuroradiology; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organ Size; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Aging; White matter hyperintensities; Longitudinal; Gray matter; Volumetry; Volumetric analysis; Nervous system diseases; Senescence; Radiodiagnosis; White matter; Hyperintensity
• ISSN: 0028-3940; 1432-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s00234-010-0746-x

Introduction Whether the degree of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) shows a significant correlation with the rate of global gray matter volume decline over a period following initial baseline measurement remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the relationship between the degree of WMHs at baseline and the rate of global gray matter volume decline by applying a longitudinal design. Methods Using a 6-year longitudinal design and magnetic resonance images of the brains of 160 healthy individuals aged over 50 years and living in the community, we analyzed the correlation between degree of WMHs using Fazekas scaling at baseline and rate of global gray matter volume decline 6 years later. To obtain the rate of global gray matter volume decline, we calculated global gray matter volume and intracranial volume at baseline and at follow-up using a fully automated method. Results The annual percentage change in the gray matter ratio (GMR, APC GMR ), in which GMR represents the percentage of gray matter volume in the intracranial volume, showed a significant positive correlation with the degree of deep WMHs and periventricular WMHs at baseline, after adjusting for age, gender, present history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion Our results suggest that degree of WMHs at baseline predicts the rate of gray matter volume decline 6 years later and that simple visual scaling of WMHs could contribute to predicting the rate of global gray matter volume decline.