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Vascular and degenerative processes differentially affect regional interhemispheric connections in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease
Lee DY, Fletcher E, Martinez O, Zozulya N, Kim J, Tran J, Buonocore M, Carmichael O et al.. Stroke, 2010-07-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background and purpose Despite the critical importance of the corpus callosum (CC) to the connection between brain hemispheres, little is known about the independent contribution of degenerative and vascular processes to regional changes in the microstructural integrity of the CC. Here, we examine these changes in subjects with mild cognitive impairment, with Alzheimer disease, and in cognitively normal elderly adults. Methods We used 3-dimensional brain MRI with diffusion tensor imaging in 47 Alzheimer disease, 77 mild cognitive impairment, and 107 cognitively normal subjects, and we calculated mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values for 4 CC regions corresponding to 4 homologous regions of cortical gray matter (GM). To assess vascular and degenerative processes, we also measured cortical GM and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume in corresponding regions and evaluated their vascular risk. Results We found that GM volumes in anterior and posterior regions were significantly related to FA values in the corresponding regions of the CC for all 3 diagnostic groups. Independent of GM volume, frontal WMH volume was also associated with FA values in the corresponding CC regions, but posterior WMH volume was not. Vascular risk was associated with FA of most CC regions, whereas diagnosis of cognitive state was associated only with FA of the anterior and posterior CC regions. Conclusions We found differential region-specific associations between degenerative and vascular processes and the structural integrity of the CC across the spectrum of cognitive ability. Based on these results, we propose a model to explain regional disruption in the interhemispheric connection.
Key findings
- Results We found that GM volumes in anterior and posterior regions were significantly related to FA values in the corresponding regions of the CC for all 3 diagnostic groups.
- Independent of GM volume, frontal WMH volume was also associated with FA values in the corresponding CC regions, but posterior WMH volume was not.
- Vascular risk was associated with FA of most CC regions, whereas diagnosis of cognitive state was associated only with FA of the anterior and posterior CC regions.
- Conclusions We found differential region-specific associations between degenerative and vascular processes and the structural integrity of the CC across the spectrum of cognitive ability.
- Based on these results, we propose a model to explain regional disruption in the interhemispheric connection.
Why it matters
In 231 participants, this study found that gray matter volumes and frontal white matter hyperintensities were related to the microstructural integrity of corresponding corpus callosum regions, with vascular risk and cognitive diagnosis showing different patterns. These findings describe how vascular and degenerative processes affect brain connections but do not test any treatment or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Stroke) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Stroke: journal h-index 455 (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 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 80 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.4 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Charles S DeCarli: h-index 150 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of California, Davis: institution h-index 1,257 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20595668) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
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APA 7th
Lee, D. Y., Fletcher, E., Martinez, O., Zozulya, N., Kim, J., Tran, J., et al. (2010). Vascular and degenerative processes differentially affect regional interhemispheric connections in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease. Stroke. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.110.582163
Vancouver
Lee DY, Fletcher E, Martinez O, Zozulya N, Kim J, Tran J, et al. Vascular and degenerative processes differentially affect regional interhemispheric connections in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease. Stroke. 2010. doi:10.1161/strokeaha.110.582163. PMID: 20595668.
BibTeX
@article{lee2010-20595668,
author = {Lee, D. Y. and Fletcher, E. and Martinez, O. and Zozulya, N. and Kim, J. and Tran, J. and Buonocore, M. and Carmichael, O. and others},
title = {{Vascular and degenerative processes differentially affect regional interhemispheric connections in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Stroke},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1161/strokeaha.110.582163},
pmid = {20595668},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.110.582163}
}
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