Laura E. Jonkman (Netherlands)
Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
Anatomy and Neurosciences
My main research focus is to define the pathological sensitivity of clinical MR images in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease) for better diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of disease progression. In addition, I manage the Normal Aging Brain Collection Amsterdam (NABCA), from post-mortem 3T MRI to pathological diagnosis of non-neurological controls. Collaborating with the Netherlands Brain Bank, this pipeline has been extended to also include Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease donors. This way, the impact of pathological and molecular change on brain structure and function in neurodegenerative disease can be studied.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

WHITE MATTER HYPERINTENSITIES ASSOCIATE WITH PATHOLOGICAL HALLMARKS IN ALZHEIMER’S AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE.

Session Name
0780 - NEUROPATHOLOGY IN AD, LBD AND OTHER DEMENTIA 2 (ID 134)
Session Type
SYMPOSIUM
Date
Thu, 17.03.2022
Session Time
02:45 PM - 04:30 PM
Room
ONSITE: 133-134
Lecture Time
04:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Presenter

Abstract

Aims

White matter hyper-intensities (WMH) are observed on FLAIR MRI, increase with age and are more prominent in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this study was to assess the association between WMH and neuropathological hallmarks in clinically-defined and pathologically-confirmed AD, PD and non-neurological control brain donors.

Methods

In-situ 3T-MRI data were collected for 19 AD, 16 PD and 21 controls, and included 3DT1-weighted and 3D FLAIR sequences. WMH were segmented on FLAIR using an in-house developed multiview convolutional neural network, followed by manual editing, and volume obtained with FSL. Fifteen brain regions were dissected at autopsy, immunostained and evaluated for neuropathological diagnosis, including Thal phase, and Braak stages for neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and α-synuclein (α-syn). Group differences were assessed with linear models (corrected for age, gender, post-mortem delay) and associations with Pearson and Spearman correlations.

Results

WMH load was higher in AD (p=0.003) and borderline higher in PD than controls p=0.055). In the whole cohort, WMH was associated with increased age (r=0.29,p=0.033), normalized brain volume (NBV; r=-0.29,p=0.034), gray matter volume (NGMV; r=-0.31,p=0.021) and Braak NFT stage (r=0.33,p=0.014). Across clinically defined controls and AD, WMH associated with NBV (r=-0.38,p=0.016), NGMV (r=-0.39,p=0.014), left and right hippocampal volume (r=-0.33,p=0.037 and r=-0.33,p=0.041), Braak NFT (r=0.44,p=0.005) and Thal phase (r=0.34,p=0.031). Across clinically defined controls and PD, WMH associated with age (r=0.45,p=0.005), NGMV (r=-0.39,p=0.018), and Braak α-syn stage (r=0.44,p=0.006).

Conclusions

WMH associate with pathological hallmarks of AD and PD and contribute to MRI atrophy.

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