%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Different Patterns of Correlation between Grey and White Matter Integrity Account for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease. %A Makovac, Elena %A Serra, Laura %A Spanò, Barbara %A Giulietti, Giovanni %A Torso, Mario %A Cercignani, Mara %A Caltagirone, Carlo %A Bozzali, Marco %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alzheimer Disease %K Atrophy %K Brain %K Depression %K Female %K Gray Matter %K Hallucinations %K Humans %K Magnetic Resonance Imaging %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Neuropsychological Tests %K White Matter %X

Behavioral disorders and psychological symptoms (BPSD) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are known to correlate with grey matter (GM) atrophy and, as shown recently, also with white matter (WM) damage. WM damage and its relationship with GM atrophy are reported in AD, reinforcing the interpretation of the AD pathology in light of a disconnection syndrome. It remains uncertain whether this disconnection might account also for different BPSD observable in AD. Here, we tested the hypothesis of different patterns of association between WM damage of the corpus callosum (CC) and GM atrophy in AD patients exhibiting one of the following BPSD clusters: Mood (i.e., anxiety and depression; ADmood), Frontal (i.e., dishinibition and elation; ADfrontal), and Psychotic (delusions and hallucinations; ADpsychotic) related symptoms, as well as AD patients without BPSD. Overall, this study brings to light the strict relationship between WM alterations in different parts of the CC and GM atrophy in AD patients exhibiting BPSD, supporting the hypothesis that such symptoms are likely to be caused by characteristic patterns of neurodegeneration of WM and GM, rather than being a reactive response to accumulation of cognitive disabilities, and should therefore be regarded as potential markers of diagnostic and prognostic value in AD.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 50 %P 591-604 %8 2016 %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26836635?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-150612 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Longitudinal Changes in Functional Brain Connectivity Predicts Conversion to Alzheimer's Disease. %A Serra, Laura %A Cercignani, Mara %A Mastropasqua, Chiara %A Torso, Mario %A Spanò, Barbara %A Makovac, Elena %A Viola, Vanda %A Giulietti, Giovanni %A Marra, Camillo %A Caltagirone, Carlo %A Bozzali, Marco %K Aged %K Alzheimer Disease %K Atrophy %K Brain %K Brain Mapping %K Cognitive Dysfunction %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Discriminant Analysis %K Disease Progression %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Gray Matter %K Humans %K Image Processing, Computer-Assisted %K Longitudinal Studies %K Magnetic Resonance Imaging %K Male %K Neural Pathways %K Neuropsychological Tests %K Prognosis %K Rest %X

This longitudinal study investigates the modifications in structure and function occurring to typical Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains over a 2-year follow-up, from pre-dementia stages of disease, with the aim of identifying biomarkers of prognostic value. Thirty-one patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were recruited and followed-up with clinical, neuropsychological, and MRI assessments. Patients were retrospectively classified as AD Converters or Non-Converters, and the data compared between groups. Cross-sectional MRI data at baseline, assessing volume and functional connectivity abnormalities, confirmed previous findings, showing a more severe pattern of regional grey matter atrophy and default-mode network disconnection in Converters than in Non-Converters. Longitudinally, Converters showed more grey matter atrophy in the frontotemporal areas, accompanied by increased connectivity in the precuneus. Discriminant analysis revealed that functional connectivity of the precuneus within the default mode network at baseline is the parameter able to correctly classify patients in Converters and Non-Converters with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 51 %P 377-89 %8 2016 %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26890769?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-150961