AUTHOR=Jung Na-Yeon , Shin Jeong-Hyeon , Kim Hee Jin , Jang Hyemin , Moon Seung Hwan , Kim Seung Joo , Kim Yeshin , Cho Soo Hyun , Kim Ko Woon , Kim Jun Pyo , Jung Young Hee , Kim Sung Tae , Kim Eun-Joo , Na Duk L. , Vogel Jacob W. , Lee Sangjin , Seong Joon-Kyung , Seo Sang Won 

TITLE=Distinctive Mediating Effects of Subcortical Structure Changes on the Relationships Between Amyloid or Vascular Changes and Cognitive Decline

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.762251

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.762251

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> We investigated the mediation effects of subcortical volume change in the relationship of amyloid beta (Aβ) and lacune with cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We prospectively recruited 101 patients with MCI who were followed up with neuropsychological tests, MRI, or Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET for 3 years. The mediation effect of subcortical structure on the association of PiB or lacunes with cognitive function was analyzed using mixed effects models.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Volume changes in the amygdala and hippocampus partially mediated the effect of PiB changes on memory function (direct effect = −0.168/−0.175, indirect effect = −0.081/−0.077 for amygdala/hippocampus) and completely mediated the effect of PiB changes on clinical dementia rating scale sum of the box (CDR-SOB) (indirect effect = 0.082/0.116 for amygdala/hippocampus). Volume changes in the thalamus completely mediated the effect of lacune on memory, frontal executive functions, and CDR-SOB (indirect effect = −0.037, −0.056, and 0.047, respectively).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Our findings provide a better understanding of the distinct role of subcortical structures in the mediation of the relationships of amyloid or vascular changes with a decline in specific cognitive domains.</p>