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
The striatum plays a central role in the limbic system and the cholinergic system, which are both affected in AD. Therefore the striatum can be considered a key candidate structure to be affected... Show moreThe striatum plays a central role in the limbic system and the cholinergic system, which are both affected in AD. Therefore the striatum can be considered a key candidate structure to be affected early in the disease. Part one of this thesis bundled the results of several volumetric and morphometric structural MRI studies of the striatum in older people and especially in patients with AD. Identifying pathological (focal) brain atrophy is, however, complex and a simple estimation of brain structure volumes of an individual patient does not lead to a diagnosis but needs to be assessed relative to group volumes and premorbid brain size. Therefore, in part two of this thesis two large population studies were included that focused on improving our understanding of the physiologic variability of brain structure and degeneration. Show less
Nho, K.; Kueider-Paisley, A.; Mahmoudian Dekhordi, S.; Arnold, M.; Risacher, S.L.; Louie, G.; ... ; Kaddurah-Daouk, R. 2018
This thesis adresses a variety of early markers of Alzheimer's disease, using MRI, histology and MRS. MRS is found to be promising for early diagnosis of AD. However this study is done on mice... Show moreThis thesis adresses a variety of early markers of Alzheimer's disease, using MRI, histology and MRS. MRS is found to be promising for early diagnosis of AD. However this study is done on mice and should be replicated on AD patients over time. Besides the early markers the thesis descibes a potential difference between male and female in the development of AD in the brain. Show less
