Brain tissue volumes in relation to cognitive function and risk of dementia

Ikram, M. Arfan; Vrooman, Henri A.; Vernooij, Meike W.; Heijer, Tom den; Hofman, Albert; Niessen, Wiro J.; van der Lugt, Aad; Koudstaal, Peter J.; Breteler, Monique M.B.

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.04.008

« Previous Next »Neurobiology of Aging
Volume 31, Issue 3 , Pages 378-386, March 2010

Brain tissue volumes in relation to cognitive function and risk of dementia

M. Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Henri A. Vrooman
- Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Meike W. Vernooij
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Tom den Heijer
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Albert Hofman
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Wiro J. Niessen
- Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Aad van der Lugt
- Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Peter J. Koudstaal
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Monique M.B. Breteler
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31 10 7043489; fax: +31 10 7044657.

Received 7 February 2008; received in revised form 25 March 2008; accepted 9 April 2008. published online 27 May 2008.

Abstract

We investigated in a population-based cohort study the association of global and lobar brain tissue volumes with specific cognitive domains and risk of dementia. Participants (n=490; 60–90 years) were non-demented at baseline (1995–1996). From baseline brain MRI-scans we obtained global and lobar volumes of CSF, GM, normal WM, white matter lesions and hippocampus. We performed neuropsychological testing at baseline to assess information processing speed, executive function, memory function and global cognitive function. Participants were followed for incident dementia until January 1, 2005. Larger volumes of CSF and WML were associated with worse performance on all neuropsychological tests, and an increased risk of dementia. Smaller WM volume was related to poorer information processing speed and executive function. In contrast, smaller GM volume was associated with worse memory function and increased risk of dementia. When investigating lobar GM volumes, we found that hippocampal volume and temporal GM volume were most strongly associated with risk of dementia, even in persons without objective and subjective cognitive deficits at baseline, followed by frontal and parietal GM volumes.