@article {945, title = {Cerebral ventricular changes associated with transitions between normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia.}, journal = {Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord}, volume = {21}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Jan-Mar}, pages = {14-24}, abstract = {

Expansion of the cerebral ventricles may occur at an accelerated rate in subjects with dementia, but the time course of expansion during transitions between normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia is not well understood. Furthermore, the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on rate of ventricular expansion are unclear. We used a fully automated segmentation technique to measure change rate in lateral ventricle-to-brain ratio (VBR) on 145 longitudinal pairs of magnetic resonance images of subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study from the Pittsburgh Center. A multivariate model analyzed VBR change rate, accounting for dementia statuses at both imaging times (normal, MCI, or dementia), age, sex, education, race, magnetic resonance-defined infarcts, Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale, baseline ventricular volume, and cardiovascular risk factors. VBR change was faster in subjects who were demented or transitioned from MCI to dementia, compared with subjects normal at both images and subjects who transitioned from normal to MCI or dementia. Patients with diabetes had faster VBR change. Ventricular expansion may accelerate late in the progression from normal cognitive function to dementia, and may be modulated by diabetes.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Case-Control Studies, Cerebral Ventricles, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors}, issn = {0893-0341}, doi = {10.1097/WAD.0b013e318032d2b1}, author = {Carmichael, Owen T and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Thompson, Paul M and Dutton, Rebecca A and Lu, Allen and Lee, Sharon E and Lee, Jessica Y and Aizenstein, Howard J and Meltzer, Carolyn C and Liu, Yanxi and Toga, Arthur W and Becker, James T} } @article {960, title = {Focal atrophy and cerebrovascular disease increase dementia risk among cognitively normal older adults.}, journal = {J Neuroimaging}, volume = {17}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Apr}, pages = {148-55}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the association of medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy and cerebrovascular disease (white matter hyperintensities [WMH], subclinical infarcts) with the risk of developing Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) among cognitively normal older adults.

METHODS: Risk of developing AD was examined for 155 cognitively normal older adults (77.4 years, 60\% women, 81\% white). The MTL volumes and the presence of WMH and of subclinical infarcts were determined from brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning of the study. Follow-up cognitive evaluations (average 4.3 years) identified those who developed AD.

RESULTS: The presence of either MTL atrophy or subclinical infarcts was independently and significantly associated with a greater risk to develop AD (OR [95\% CI]: 4.4 [1.5, 12.3] and 2.7 [1.0, 7.1], respectively). In addition, those participants with both MTL atrophy and at least one brain infarct had a 7-fold increase in the risk of developing AD (OR [95\% CI]: 7.0 [1.5, 33.1]), compared to those who had neither of these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: In cognitively normal older adults, markers of neurodegeneration (as reflected by MTL atrophy) and of cerebrovascular disease (as reflected by infarcts on MRI) independently contribute to the risk to develop AD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Analysis of Variance, Atrophy, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Cognition, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Risk Factors, Temporal Lobe, United States}, issn = {1051-2284}, doi = {10.1111/j.1552-6569.2007.00093.x}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Aizenstein, Howard J and Wu, Minjie and Newman, Anne B and Becker, James T and Lopez, Oscar L and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {988, title = {A regions-of-interest volumetric analysis of mobility limitations in community-dwelling older adults.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {62}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Sep}, pages = {1048-55}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: In community-dwelling older adults, greater mobility impairment is associated with greater burden of diffuse brain structural abnormalities, such as higher white matter hyperintensities. This study examined the association between gray matter volumes of regions related to motor control, gait, and balance and whether this association is independent of burden of white matter hyperintensities.

METHODS: A random sample of 327 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study (78.3 +/- 4.1 years old, 57\% women) contributed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mobility data. A brain imaging automated method measured gray matter volume in cerebellum, basal ganglia, and prefrontal and parietal cortex in both hemispheres. Gait speed was measured while walking 15 feet at usual pace. Standing balance was assessed by timing tandem stance. Associations between each region{\textquoteright}s volume and gait speed or balance were measured before and after adjustment for demographics, head size, cardiovascular risk factors, and 0-9 grading scores of white matter hyperintensities.

RESULTS: Smaller left cerebellum and left prefrontal regions were associated with slower gait, independently of covariates and of white matter hyperintensities. Smaller right putamen, right posterior superior parietal cortex, and both left and right cerebellum were associated with balance difficulty, independently of covariates and white matter hyperintensities.

CONCLUSIONS: Smaller gray matter volumes in regions crucial for motor control are associated with slower gait and poorer balance, and the association appears to be independent of other diffuse brain abnormalities such as white matter hyperintensities.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Brain, Female, Gait, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mobility Limitation, Postural Balance}, issn = {1079-5006}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/62.9.1048}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Aizenstein, Howard J and Studenski, Stephanie and Newman, Anne B} } @article {889, title = {Ventricular volume and dementia progression in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {28}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Mar}, pages = {389-97}, abstract = {

Elevated cerebral ventricular volume may be associated with dementia risk and progression. A fully-automated technique that agreed highly with radiological readings was used to estimate lateral ventricle volume on MR scans done at baseline in 1997-99 of 377 subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) from the Pittsburgh Center. 327 subjects were normal or diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at baseline and were evaluated 4 years later. Baseline ventricular volume was analyzed in multivariate models with age, gender, education level, presence and incidence of cerebral infarcts, and dementia category (normal, MCI, or dementia) at baseline and follow-up as fixed effects. Ventricular volume at baseline was significantly higher among subjects normal at baseline and demented 4 years later. Age, gender, education level, and dementia progression were significant factors affecting ventricular volume. Ventricular volume was higher in dementia compared to MCI, higher in MCI compared to controls, and higher in Possible-Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s-disease (AD) dementia compared to Probable-AD. Larger ventricles in healthy subjects may indicate susceptibility to, or progression of, dementia-related pathology.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cognition Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Disease Progression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Lateral Ventricles, Linear Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Time Factors}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.01.006}, author = {Carmichael, Owen T and Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Thompson, Paul M and Dutton, Rebecca A and Lu, Allen and Lee, Sharon E and Lee, Jessica Y and Aizenstein, Howard J and Meltzer, Carolyn Cidis and Liu, Yanxi and Toga, Arthur W and Becker, James T} } @article {1334, title = {Slower gait, slower information processing and smaller prefrontal area in older adults.}, journal = {Age Ageing}, volume = {41}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Jan}, pages = {58-64}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Slower gait in older adults is related to smaller volume of the prefrontal area (PFAv). The pathways underlying this association have not yet been explored. Understanding slowing gait could help improve function in older age. We examine whether the association between smaller PFAv and slower gait is explained by lower performance on numerous neuropsychological tests.

HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesise that slower information processing explains this association, while tests of language or memory will not.

METHODS: Data on brain imaging, neuropsychological tests (information processing speed, visuospatial attention, memory, language, mood) and time to walk 15 feet were obtained in 214 adults (73.3 years, 62\% women) free from stroke and dementia. Covariates included central (white matter hyperintensities, vision) and peripheral contributors of gait (vibration sense, muscle strength, arthritis, body mass index), demographics (age, race, gender, education), as well as markers of prevalent vascular diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes and ankle arm index).

RESULTS: In linear regression models, smaller PFAv was associated with slower time to walk independent of covariates. This association was no longer significant after adding information processing speed to the model. None of the other neuropsychological tests significantly attenuated this association.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that smaller PFAv may contribute to slower gait through slower information processing. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to examine the casual relationship between focal brain atrophy with slowing in information processing and gait.

}, keywords = {Affect, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attention, Body Mass Index, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Gait Disorders, Neurologic, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Male, Memory, Mental Disorders, Mental Processes, Muscle Strength, Neuroimaging, Neuropsychological Tests, Prefrontal Cortex, Prevalence, Walking}, issn = {1468-2834}, doi = {10.1093/ageing/afr113}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Studenski, Stephanie A and Aizenstein, Howard J and Boudreau, Robert M and Longstreth, William T and Newman, Anne B} } @article {6107, title = {Long-term survival in adults 65 years and older with white matter hyperintensity: association with performance on the digit symbol substitution test.}, journal = {Psychosom Med}, volume = {75}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Sep}, pages = {624-31}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) confers increased mortality risk in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about differences in survival times among adults 65 years and older who have WMH and live in the community. To characterize the factors that may reduce mortality risk in the presence of WMH, measures of race, sex, apolipoprotein E4, neuroimaging, and cardiometabolic, physiological, and psychosocial characteristics were examined, with a particular focus on information processing as measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

METHODS: Cox proportional models were used to estimate mortality risks in a cohort of 3513 adults (74.8 years, 58\% women, 84\% white) with WMH (0-9 points), DSST (0-90 points), risk factor assessment in 1992 to 1994, and data on mortality and incident stroke in 2009 (median follow-up [range] = 14.2 [0.5-18.1] years).

RESULTS: WMH predicted a 48\% greater mortality risk (age-adjusted hazard ratio [HR; 95\% confidence interval {CI}] for WMH >3 points = 1.48 [1.35-1.62]). This association was attenuated after adjustment for DSST (HR [CI] = 1.38 [1.27-1.51]) or lacunar infarcts (HR [CI] = 1.37 [1.25,1.50]) but not after adjustment for other factors. The interaction between DSST and WMH was significant (p = .011). In fully adjusted models stratified by WMH of 3 or higher, participants with DSST greater than or equal to median had a 34\% lower mortality risk among those with WMH of 3 or higher (n = 532/1217) and a 28\% lower mortality risk among those with WMH lower than 3 (n = 1364/2296), compared with participants with DSST less than median (HR [95\% CI] = 0.66 [0.55-0.81] and 0.72 [0.62-0.83], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: WMH is associated with increased long-term mortality risk in community-dwelling adults 65 years and older. The increased risk is attenuated for those with higher DSST. Assessment of cognitive function with DSST may improve risk stratification of individuals with WMH.

}, keywords = {Aged, Apolipoprotein E4, Biomarkers, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Epidemiologic Methods, Female, Humans, Life Style, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuroimaging, Neuropsychological Tests, Reaction Time, Sex Factors, Stroke, Survivors}, issn = {1534-7796}, doi = {10.1097/PSY.0b013e31829c1df2}, author = {Rosano, Caterina and Chang, Yue-Fang and Kuller, Lewis H and Guralnik, Jack M and Studenski, Stephanie A and Aizenstein, Howard J and Gianaros, Peter J and Lopez, Oscar L and Longstreth, William T and Newman, Anne B} } @article {6928, title = {Social Network Size and Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {63}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Nov}, pages = {2430-2}, keywords = {Aged, Brain, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuroimaging, Social Participation, Social Support}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.13805}, author = {Flatt, Jason D and Rosso, Andrea L and Aizenstein, Howard J and Schulz, Richard and Longstreth, W T and Newman, Anne B and Fowler, Nicole R and Rosano, Caterina} }