Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

JA

Accession No.:

J62889

Journal:


Journal of Neurotrauma

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 27, 12, 2121-2130

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study examined the relationship between markers of diffuse traumatic axonal injury (TAI) and volumes of cortical and subcortical structures, while also assessing the relationship between cognitive outcomes and regional brain volumes. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed in 24 patients with TAI within 1 week of injury and were repeated 8 months later. Diffusion tensor imaging tractography was used to reconstruct prominent white matter tracts and calculate their fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values. Regional brain volumes were computed using semi-automated morphometric analysis. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to assess associations between brain volumes, white matter integrity (FA and MD), and neuropsychological outcomes. Post-traumatic volumes of many gray matter structures were associated with chronic damage to related white matter tracts, and less strongly associated with measures of white matter integrity in the acute scans. In addition, regional brain volumes were associated with deficits in corresponding neuropsychological domains. Results suggest that TAI may be a primary mechanism of post-traumatic atrophy, and provide support for regional morphometry as a biomarker for cognitive outcome after injury.

Author(s):


Warner MA, Marquez de la Plata C, Spence J, Wang JY, Harper C, Moore C, Devous M, Diaz-Arrastia R

Participating Centers: