MRI atrophy of the caudate nucleus and slower walking speed in the elderly

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 871 - 878
• Main Authors: Dumurgier, Julien, Crivello, Fabrice, Mazoyer, Bernard, Ahmed, Ismaïl, Tavernier, Béatrice, Grabli, David, François, Chantal, Tzourio-Mazoyer, Nathalie, Tzourio, Christophe, Elbaz, Alexis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 02.04.2012; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Atrophy; Automation; Basal ganglia; Blood pressure; Brain; Caudate nucleus; Caudate Nucleus - pathology; Caudate Nucleus - physiopathology; Cognitive science; Cross sections; Dementia; Female; Fractures; Gait; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Motors; Neuroscience; Nuclei; Regional; Regression analysis; Time Factors; Volumetric MRI; Walking; Walking - physiology; Walking speed; TIV; Basal ganglia; Caudate nucleus; Gait; WMLs; MMSE; Aging; Volumetric MRI; Walking speed; BMI
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.01.102

Cerebral white matter lesions are associated with poorer motor performances in the elderly, but the role of gray matter atrophy remains largely unknown. We investigated the cross-sectional relation between brain regional gray matter volumes and walking speed over 6m in the 3C-Dijon study, a large population-based study of community-dwelling persons aged 65years and over (N=1623). Regional gray matter volumes were obtained using an automated anatomical labeling parcellation method. Multivariable analyses were performed using a semi-Bayes approach. After adjustment for potential confounders, persons who walked slower had a smaller volume of basal ganglia (regression coefficient [β]=0.054, standard error [SE]=0.028, p=0.05). In more detailed analyses, the volume of the caudate nucleus had a preponderant role on this association (β=0.049, SE=0.019, p=0.009), and walking speed decreased progressively with the volume of the caudate nucleus (p for linear trend<0.001). These results underline the role of gray matter subcortical structures, in particular of the caudate nucleus, in the age-related decline of motor performances among community-dwelling elderly subjects. ►Population-based study among 1623 community-dwelling persons aged 65years and over. ►Analysis of the relationship between MRI gray matter volumes and walking speed. ►Linear association between volume of caudate nucleus and walking speed. ►Suggestive for the role of gray matter structures in the decline of motor function.