Shape Abnormalities of the Caudate Nucleus Correlate with Poorer Gait and Balance: Results from a Subset of the LADIS Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Shape Abnormalities of the Caudate Nucleus Correlate with Poorer Gait and Balance

T2 - Results from a Subset of the LADIS Study

AU - Macfarlane, Matthew D

AU - Looi, Jeffrey C L

AU - Walterfang, Mark

AU - Spulber, Gabriela

AU - Velakoulis, Dennis

AU - Styner, Martin

AU - Crisby, Milita

AU - Orndahl, Eva

AU - Erkinjuntti, Timo

AU - Waldemar, Gunhild

AU - Garde, Ellen

AU - Hennerici, Michael G

AU - Bäzner, Hansjörg

AU - Blahak, Christian

AU - Wallin, Anders

AU - Wahlund, Lars-Olof

AU - LADIS Study Group

N1 - Copyright © 2015 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Functional deficits seen in several neurodegenerative disorders have been linked with dysfunction in frontostriatal circuits and with associated shape alterations in striatal structures. The severity of visible white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging has been found to correlate with poorer performance on measures of gait and balance. This study aimed to determine whether striatal volume and shape changes were correlated with gait dysfunction.METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging scans and clinical gait/balance data (scores from the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) were sourced from 66 subjects in the previously published LADIS trial, performed in nondisabled individuals older than age 65 years with WMHs at study entry. Data were obtained at study entry and at 3-year follow-up. Caudate nuclei and putamina were manually traced using a previously published method and volumes calculated. The relationships between volume and physical performance on the SPPB were investigated with shape analysis using the spherical harmonic shape description toolkit.RESULTS: There was no correlation between the severity of WMHs and striatal volumes. Caudate nuclei volume correlated with performance on the SPPB at baseline but not at follow-up, with subsequent shape analysis showing left caudate changes occurred in areas corresponding to inputs of the dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor, and motor cortex. There was no correlation between putamen volumes and performance on the SPPB.CONCLUSION: Disruption in frontostriatal circuits may play a role in mediating poorer physical performance in individuals with WMHs. Striatal volume and shape changes may be suitable biomarkers for functional changes in this population.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Functional deficits seen in several neurodegenerative disorders have been linked with dysfunction in frontostriatal circuits and with associated shape alterations in striatal structures. The severity of visible white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging has been found to correlate with poorer performance on measures of gait and balance. This study aimed to determine whether striatal volume and shape changes were correlated with gait dysfunction.METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging scans and clinical gait/balance data (scores from the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) were sourced from 66 subjects in the previously published LADIS trial, performed in nondisabled individuals older than age 65 years with WMHs at study entry. Data were obtained at study entry and at 3-year follow-up. Caudate nuclei and putamina were manually traced using a previously published method and volumes calculated. The relationships between volume and physical performance on the SPPB were investigated with shape analysis using the spherical harmonic shape description toolkit.RESULTS: There was no correlation between the severity of WMHs and striatal volumes. Caudate nuclei volume correlated with performance on the SPPB at baseline but not at follow-up, with subsequent shape analysis showing left caudate changes occurred in areas corresponding to inputs of the dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor, and motor cortex. There was no correlation between putamen volumes and performance on the SPPB.CONCLUSION: Disruption in frontostriatal circuits may play a role in mediating poorer physical performance in individuals with WMHs. Striatal volume and shape changes may be suitable biomarkers for functional changes in this population.

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Caudate Nucleus

KW - Female

KW - Gait

KW - Humans

KW - Leukoencephalopathies

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Male

KW - Postural Balance

U2 - 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.04.011

DO - 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.04.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23916546

SN - 1064-7481

VL - 23

SP - 59-71.e1

JO - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

JF - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

IS - 1

ER -