Patterns of cortical atrophy and cognitive deficits associated with healthy aging: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study

• Grant number: 13/03231-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Tânia Corrêa de Toledo Ferraz Alves
• Grantee: Paula Squarzoni da Silveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The presence of cognitive decline is a frequent feature associated with aging in the general population and may be related to brain structural changes that occur over time. A number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have investigated the relationship between aging, reduced gray matter (GM) volumes in the brain and cognitive performance, using cross-sectional designs and correlation tests. However, longitudinal MRI studies investigating such issues have been very scarce to date, and none of those have addressed whether the progression of cognitive deficits and GM reductions are influenced by cardiovascular risk factors and allelic variations in the gene that codes the apolipoprotein E (APOE). Using a longitudinal design with repeated MRI data acquisitions, the present study aims to investigate: the patterns of GM loss over 3 years in healthy elderly subjects recruited in a community-based sample in the city of São Paulo; the relationship between regional GM loss in the brain and the progression of cognitive decline over 3 years; and the influence of APOE gene polymorphisms and indices of cardiovascular risk over the profile of GM loss and cognitive deficits in those individuals. Methods: 170 elderly subjects (over 65 years) were initially evaluated; after 3 years, a sub-sample of 65 individuals underwent a second MRI examination in a 1.5 Tesla equipment, and a cognitive re-evaluation using a structured, transculturally validated neuropsychological battery. All subjects also underwent genotyping for ascertainment of the presence of the APOE4 allele, as well as clinical assessment of cardiovascular risk according with Framingham scores. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) based on the software SPM8, we will test the following hypotheses: the progression of cognitive decline will be associated with volumetric reductions of GM over three years, involving the hippocampal region and the temporal and frontal neocortices; cognitive decline associated with progressive GM volume reductions will be greater in individuals with higher cardiovascular risk and carriers of the APOE4 allele. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SQUARZONI, PAULA; TAMASHIRO-DURAN, JAQUELINE H.; DURAN, FABIO L. S.; LEITE, CLAUDIA C.; WAJNGARTEN, MAURICIO; SCAZUFCA, MARCIA; MENEZES, PAULO R.; LOTUFO, PAULO A.; ALVES, TANIA C. T. F.; BUSATTO, GERALDO F.. High frequency of silent brain infarcts associated with cognitive deficits in an economically disadvantaged population. Clinics, v. 72, n. 8, p. 474-480, AUG 2017. (04/15336-5, 13/03231-3)

RZEZAK, PATRICIA; SQUARZONI, PAULA; DURAN, FABIO L.; FERRAZ ALVES, TANIA DE TOLEDO; TAMASHIRO-DURAN, JAQUELINE; BOTTINO, CASSIO M.; RIBEIZ, SALMA; LOTUFO, PAULO A.; MENEZES, PAULO R.; SCAZUFCA, MARCIA; et al. Relationship between Brain Age-Related Reduction in Gray Matter and Educational Attainment. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 10, OCT 16 2015. (12/13065-0, 12/50329-6, 13/03231-3)

RONDINA, JANE MARYAM; SQUARZONI, PAULA; SOUZA-DURAN, FABIO LUIS; TAMASHIRO-DURAN, JAQUELINE HATSUKO; SCAZUFCA, MARCIA; MENEZES, PAULO ROSSI; VALLADA, HOMERO; LOTUFO, PAULO A.; ALVES, TANIA CORREADE TOLEDO FERRAZ; FILHO, GERALDO BUSATTO. Framingham coronary heart disease risk score can be predicted from structural brain images in elderly subjects. FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE, v. 6, DEC 1 2014. (04/15336-5, 13/03231-3)

SQUARZONI, PAULA; SOUZA DURAN, FABIO LUIS; BUSATTO, GERALDO F.; TOLEDO DE FERRAZ ALVES, TANIA CORREA. Reduced Gray Matter Volume of the Thalamus and Hippocampal Region in Elderly Healthy Adults with no Impact of APOE epsilon 4: A Longitudinal Voxel-Based Morphometry Study. JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, v. 62, n. 2, p. 757-771, 2018. (04/15336-5, 05/56464-9, 13/03231-3)

MARINA BUCHPIGUEL; PEDRO ROSA; PAULA SQUARZONI; FABIO L.S. DURAN; JAQUELINE H. TAMASHIRO-DURAN; CLAUDIA C. LEITE; PAULO LOTUFO; MARCIA SCAZUFCA; TANIA C.T.F. ALVES; GERALDO F. BUSATTO. Differences in Total Brain Volume between Sexes in a Cognitively Unimpaired Elderly Population. Clinics, v. 75, 2020-12-09. (13/03231-3, 04/15336-5)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVEIRA, Paula Squarzoni da. Patterns of cortical atrophy and cognitive decline associated with healthy aging: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.