Abstract
Introduction It is unclear whether white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), magnetic resonance imaging markers of small-vessel cerebrovascular disease, promote neurodegeneration and associated clinical decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD), or simply co-occur with recognized pathogenic processes. Methods In 169 patients with mild cognitive impairment, followed for 3 years, we examined the association of (1) baseline regional WMH and cerebral spinal fluid-derived t-tau (total tau) with entorhinal cortex atrophy rates, as a marker of AD-related neurodegeneration, and conversion to AD; and (2) baseline regional WMH with change in t-tau level. Results In participants with low baseline t-tau, higher regional WMH volumes were associated with faster entorhinal cortex atrophy. Higher parietal WMH volume predicted conversion to AD in those with high t-tau. Higher parietal and occipital WMH volumes predicted increasing t-tau. Discussion WMHs affect AD clinical and pathologic processes both directly and interacting with tau.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1510-1519 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Alzheimer's and Dementia |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- CSF tau
- Mild cognitive impairment
- White matter hyperintensities
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy