Subjective cognitive decline, a perceived worsening of cognitive functioning without objective deficit onassessment, could indicate incipient dementia. However, the neural correlates of subjective... Show moreSubjective cognitive decline, a perceived worsening of cognitive functioning without objective deficit onassessment, could indicate incipient dementia. However, the neural correlates of subjective cognitive decline asassessed by magnetic resonance imaging remain somewhat unclear. Here, we evaluated differences in functionalconnectivity across memory regions, and cognitive performance, between healthy older adults aged 50 to 85 with(n¼35,Age¼68.57.7, 22 female), and without (n¼48,Age¼67.08.8, 29 female) subjective cognitivedecline. We also evaluated neurite density, fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity of the parahippocampalcingulum, cingulate gyrus cingulum, and uncinatefiber bundles in a subsample of participants (n¼37). Partic-ipants with subjective cognitive decline displayed lower average functional connectivity across regions of a pu-tative posterior memory system, and lower retrosplenial-precuneus functional connectivity specifically, than thosewithout memory complaints. Furthermore, participants with subjective cognitive decline performed poorer thancontrols on visual working memory. However, groups did not differ in cingulum or uncinate diffusion measures.Our results show differences in functional connectivity and visual working memory in participants with subjectivecognitive decline that could indicate potential incipient dementia. Show less
Rooden, S. van; Berg-Huysmans, A.A. van den; Croll, P.H.; Labadie, G.; Hayes, J.M.; Viviano, R.; ... ; Damoiseaux, J.S. 2018
Background:Research in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) has mainly focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related MRI markers, such as hippocampal volume. However, small vessel... Show moreBackground:Research in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) has mainly focused on Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related MRI markers, such as hippocampal volume. However, small vessel disease (SVD) is currently established as serious comorbidity in dementia and its preliminary stages. It is therefore important to examine SVD markers in addition to AD markers in older adults presenting with SCD.Objective:The aim of our study was to elucidate the role of SVD markers in late middle-aged to older adults with and without SCD in addition to the commonly found role of AD markers (hippocampal volume).Methods:67 healthy late middle-aged to older adults participated in this study (mean age 68 years); 25 participants with SCD and 42 participants without SCD. We evaluated quantitative as well as qualitative AD markers (i.e., hippocampal volume and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) scale) and SVD markers (i.e., white matter hyperintensities (WMH) volume, Fazekas scale, microbleeds, and lacunar infarcts), and neuropsychological function and amount of memory complaints.Results:We found a significant effect of SCD on hippocampal atrophy, as assessed using the MTA scale, but not on hippocampal volume. In addition, we found a significant effect of SCD, and amount of memory complaints, on WMH volume and Fazekas score, suggesting larger WMH volumes in participants with SCD.Conclusion:SVD MRI markers are related to amount of memory complaints, in addition to the commonly observed AD MRI markers, as demonstrated by the greater WMHs in healthy late middle-aged to older adults with SCD. Show less
Rooden, S. van; Berg-Huysmans, A.A. van den; Croll, P.H.; Labadie, G.; Hayes, J.M.; Viviano, R.; ... ; Damoiseaux, J.S. 2018
