Exploring Sex Differences in the Degeneration of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert and its White Matter Tracts in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Tatianna Howard1, Charlotte Casselton1, Gang Seo1, Annie Abay1, Kevin Wilkins1, Rachel Crockett2
1Stanford University, 2University of Oxford
Objective:
Determine the structural integrity of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert(NBM), and its projections, in people in different stages of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Lewy Body Dementia, and explore the effect of sex differences on NBM degeneration, within each of these groups. This was also determined in age-matched healthy controls
Background:
Recent research has demonstrated that degeneration of the cholinergic network could be partially responsible for the decline in cognitive function found in Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Lewy Body Dementia (DLB), and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Some aspects of cognitive functioning that have been shown to be affected are attention, visuospatial processing, and arousal. Research also demonstrates that sex can factor into which neurodegenerative disease someone will get, but there are not many studies specifically focused on sex differences in NBM atrophy.
Design/Methods:
We have collated data from 250 participants from two databases: Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative: 50 ADNI healthy controls (HC), 50 AD-Mild Cognitive Impairment (AD-MCI), 50 AD, 34 PPMI HCs, PD-no MCI, and 50 PD-MCI. Both databases included structural MRIs and neuropsychological batteries. We assessed gray matter volume of the NBM from the T1 image across each of these groups using voxel-based morphometry. For the tract analysis, we extracted the mean diffusivity of the lateral and medial NBM tracts using diffusion tensor imaging.
Results:
There was a significant difference in degeneration between the male and female cohorts, with the male cohort having significantly more deterioration in the NBM, as well as both of its tracts, in both AD and PD, but not healthy controls.
Conclusions:
This study will characterize the degeneration of the cortical cholinergic system across a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, and the mechanisms behind the atrophy which may be affected by sex-related differences. This could possibly lead to more targeted therapies in the future.
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