White Matter Correlates of Cognitive Performance on the UCSF Brain Health Assessment

Abstract

Objective: White matter (WM) microstructure changes are increasingly recognized as a mechanism of age-related cognitive differences. This study examined the associations between patterns of WM microstructure and cognitive performance on the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Brain Health Assessment (BHA) subtests of memory (Favorites), executive functions and speed (Match), and visuospatial skills (Line Orientation) within a sample of older adults. Method: Fractional anisotropy (FA) in WM tracts and BHA performance were examined in 84 older adults diagnosed as neurologically healthy (47), with mild cognitive impairment (19), or with dementia (18). The relationships between FA and subtest performances were evaluated using regression analyses. We then explored whether regional WM predicted performance after accounting for variance explained by global FA. Results: Memory performance was associated with FA of the fornix and the superior cerebellar peduncle, and executive functions and speed with the body of the corpus callosum. The fornix – memory association, and the corpus callosum – executive association, remained significant after accounting for global FA. Neither tract-based nor global FA was associated with visuospatial performance. Conclusions: Memory and executive functions are associated with different patterns of WM diffusivity. Findings add insight into WM alterations underlying age-and-disease-related cognitive decline.

BHA‐CS: A novel cognitive composite for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders

“…The novel measures that contributed most significantly to the BHA‐CS composite were Match (executive functions and speed) and Favorites (episodic memory), which may be related to their widespread neural bases in brain regions frequently affected in neurodegenerative disease. Specifically, we previously showed that performance on Match was strongly correlated with gray matter volumes in bilateral frontal, parietal, and subcortical regions, and white matter integrity in the corpus callosum 17,39 . Similarly, performance on Favorites localized to gray matter volumes in bilateral temporal, insular, and frontal regions with most significant associations with medial temporal lobes 17 .…”

“…Specifically, we previously showed that performance on Match was strongly correlated with gray matter volumes in bilateral frontal, parietal, and subcortical regions, and white matter integrity in the corpus callosum. 17,39 Similarly, performance on Favorites localized to gray matter volumes in bilateral temporal, insular, and frontal regions with most significant associations with medial temporal lobes. 17 In contrast, performance on Line Orientation, which did not significantly contribute to the BHA-CS composite, narrowly localized to a cluster of gray matter in the right superior parietal lobe.…”

Deep Learning for Predicting Cognitive Gap as a Reliable Biomarker of Dementia

“…In addition, recent studies demonstrated that the extent of the microstructural changes in the limbic system on brain MRI images correlates with the magnitude of cognitive impairment [13]. Brain atrophy assessed on structural MRI shown a valid marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD) [14] and AD-related neurodegeneration at the late stages of the disease.…”

Brain–computer interface‐based target recognition system using transfer learning: A deep learning approach

“…In 2019, scientists from the UCSF published a study demonstrating a BCI capable of helping neurological condition patients with speech disability . 7,8 Their BCI utilized high-density electrocorticography 9 to record neural activity from a patient's brain.…”