Lower myelin content is associated with more rapid cognitive decline among cognitively unimpaired individuals.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The influence of myelination on longitudinal changes in cognitive performance remains unclear.

Methods

For each participant (N = 123), longitudinal cognitive scores were calculated. Myelin content was probed using myelin water fraction (MWF) or longitudinal relaxation rate (R₁ ); both are MRI measures sensitive to myelin, with MWF being specific.

Results

Lower MWF was associated with steeper declines in executive function (p < .02 in all regions) and lower R₁ was associated with steeper declines in verbal fluency (p < .03 in all regions). Additionally, lower R₁ was associated with steeper declines in executive function (p < .02 in all regions) and memory (p < .04 in occipital and cerebral white matter) but did not survive

SUBMITTER: Gong Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10387505 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature