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Microstructural white matter changes in cognitively normal individuals at risk of amnestic MCI
Zhuang L, Sachdev PS, Trollor JN, Kochan NA, Reppermund S, Brodaty H, Wen W.. Neurology, 2012-07-25
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective Since Alzheimer disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disorder and its pathologic features are likely to be present for many years before symptoms become manifest, we investigated whether microstructural white matter changes similar to those identified in patients with AD can be detected in cognitively normal individuals without dementia destined to develop amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods We studied 193 cognitively normal individuals, of whom 173 remained cognitively stable (CN-stable) and 20 were diagnosed with aMCI (CN-aMCI converter) 2 years later. Structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging were acquired at baseline to assess gray matter atrophy and microstructural white matter changes, respectively. Results At baseline, compared with CN-stable, CN-aMCI converters had substantial reductions in white matter integrity in the precuneus, parahippocampal cingulum, parahippocampal gyrus white matter, and fornix. Other diffuse white matter changes were observed in the frontal, parietal, and subcortical regions, whereas gray matter structures were relatively intact. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the precuneus were found to be a predictor of conversion from cognitively normal to aMCI. In addition, the FA values of the left parahippocampal gyrus white matter were predictive of subsequent episodic memory decline. Conclusions Microstructural white matter changes are present in cognitively normal individuals in the pre-aMCI stage, and may serve as a potential imaging marker of early AD-related brain changes.
Key findings
- Results At baseline, compared with CN-stable, CN-aMCI converters had substantial reductions in white matter integrity in the precuneus, parahippocampal cingulum, parahippocampal gyrus white matter, and fornix.
Why it matters
Among 193 cognitively normal people, the 20 who developed amnestic mild cognitive impairment two years later already had reduced white matter integrity in the precuneus, parahippocampal cingulum, parahippocampal gyrus white matter and fornix at baseline, while gray matter was relatively intact. This identifies early imaging markers of risk but does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants193
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 2 / 4 | 193 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 127 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.9 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Wei Xiong Wen: h-index 66 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | UNSW Sydney: institution h-index 1,101 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22843270) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Zhuang, L., Sachdev, P. S., Trollor, J. N., Kochan, N. A., Reppermund, S., Brodaty, H., et al. (2012). Microstructural white matter changes in cognitively normal individuals at risk of amnestic MCI. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182661f4d
Vancouver
Zhuang L, Sachdev PS, Trollor JN, Kochan NA, Reppermund S, Brodaty H, et al. Microstructural white matter changes in cognitively normal individuals at risk of amnestic MCI. Neurology. 2012. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182661f4d. PMID: 22843270.
BibTeX
@article{zhuang2012-22843270,
author = {Zhuang, L. and Sachdev, P. S. and Trollor, J. N. and Kochan, N. A. and Reppermund, S. and Brodaty, H. and Wen, W.},
title = {{Microstructural white matter changes in cognitively normal individuals at risk of amnestic MCI}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182661f4d},
pmid = {22843270},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182661f4d}
}
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