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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Brain Imaging Methods
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1440653

Exploring White Matter Microstructural Alterations in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Multimodal Diffusion MRI Investigation Utilizing Diffusion Kurtosis and Free Water Imaging

Provisionally accepted
Megan R. Nelson Megan R. Nelson 1,2Elizabeth Keeling Elizabeth Keeling 1,2Ashley M. Stokes Ashley M. Stokes 1Maurizio Bergamino Maurizio Bergamino 1*
  • 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI), Phoenix, United States
  • 2 Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage from normal aging to dementia, characterized by noticeable changes in cognitive function that do not significantly impact daily life. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) plays a crucial role in understanding MCI by assessing white matter integrity and revealing early signs of axonal degeneration and myelin breakdown before cognitive symptoms appear. Methods: This study utilized the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database to compare white matter microstructure in individuals with MCI to cognitively normal (CN) individuals, employing advanced dMRI techniques such as diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), mean signal diffusion kurtosis imaging (MSDKI), and free water imaging (FWI). Results: Analyzing data from 55 CN subjects and 46 individuals with MCI, this study found significant differences in white matter integrity, particularly in free water levels and kurtosis values, suggesting neuroinflammatory responses and microstructural integrity disruption in MCI. Moreover, negative correlations between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and free water levels in the brain within the MCI group point to the potential of these measures as early biomarkers for cognitive impairment. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates how a multimodal advanced diffusion imaging approach can uncover early microstructural changes in MCI, offering insights into the neurobiological mechanisms behind cognitive decline.

    Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, free-water DTI, diffusion kurtosis imaging, mean signal diffusion kurtosis imaging

    Received: 29 May 2024; Accepted: 22 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Nelson, Keeling, Stokes and Bergamino. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Maurizio Bergamino, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI), Phoenix, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.