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Disrupted topological organization in white matter structural networks in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: relationship to subtype
Shu N, Liang Y, Li H, Zhang J, Li X, Wang L, He Y, Wang Y et al.. Radiology, 2012-09-14
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Purpose To investigate the topological alterations of whole-brain white matter structural connectivity in patients with different types of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), including single-domain (SD) and multidomain (MD) aMCI, and to explore the relationship of such connectivity with neuropsychologic performance. Materials and methods This study was approved by the institutional review board of Imaging Center for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The present study involved 38 patients with aMCI (SD aMCI, n=18; MD aMCI, n=20) and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. White-matter connectional architecture in each participant was depicted with diffusion-weighted MR imaging and represented in terms of a connectivity matrix by using a deterministic tractography method. Graph theory-based analyses were then performed to characterize brain network properties. Results The global topological organization of white matter networks was significantly disrupted in patients with MD aMCI (P Conclusion The present study suggests early onset disruption of whole-brain white matter connectivity in patients with aMCI, especially in those with the MD subtype, supporting the view that MD aMCI is a more advanced form of disease than is SD aMCI. Moreover, cognitive correlations with topological network properties suggest their potential use as markers to assess the risk of Alzheimer disease.
Key findings
- Results The global topological organization of white matter networks was significantly disrupted in patients with MD aMCI (P<.01 for all) but not in those with SD aMCI, as compared with control subjects.
Why it matters
The global organization of white matter networks was significantly disrupted in patients with multidomain amnestic mild cognitive impairment, supporting the view that this subtype is a more advanced form of disease than single-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment. This points to early disruption of whole-brain white matter connectivity in these patients.
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Study details
- Participants18
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Radiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Radiology: journal h-index 431 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 18 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 124 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.8 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Zhanjun Zhang: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Princeton University: institution h-index 1,563 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22984189) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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APA 7th
Shu, N., Liang, Y., Li, H., Zhang, J., Li, X., Wang, L., et al. (2012). Disrupted topological organization in white matter structural networks in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: relationship to subtype. Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.12112361
Vancouver
Shu N, Liang Y, Li H, Zhang J, Li X, Wang L, et al. Disrupted topological organization in white matter structural networks in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: relationship to subtype. Radiology. 2012. doi:10.1148/radiol.12112361. PMID: 22984189.
BibTeX
@article{shu2012-22984189,
author = {Shu, N. and Liang, Y. and Li, H. and Zhang, J. and Li, X. and Wang, L. and He, Y. and Wang, Y. and others},
title = {{Disrupted topological organization in white matter structural networks in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: relationship to subtype}},
journal = {Radiology},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1148/radiol.12112361},
pmid = {22984189},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.12112361}
}
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