Introduction: Cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been reported to be related to hippocampal atrophy and microstructural changes in white matter (WM). We aimed to predict the neurocognitive functions of patients with MCI or AD using hippocampal volumes and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics via partial least squares regression (PLSR).Methods: A total of 148 elderly female subjects were included: AD (n = 49), MCI (n = 66), and healthy controls (n = 33). Twenty‐four hippocampal subfield volumes and the average values for fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of 48 WM tracts were used as predictors, CERAD‐K total scores, scores of CERAD‐K 7 cognitive subdomains and K‐GDS were used as dependent variables in PLSR.Results: Regarding MCI patients, DTI metrics such as the MD values of the left retrolenticular part of the internal capsule and left fornix (cres)/stria terminalis were significant predictors, while hippocampal subfield volumes, like the left CA1 and hippocampal tail, were main contributors to cognitive function in AD patients, although global FA/MD values were also strong predictors. The 10‐fold cross‐validation and stricter 300‐iteration tests proved that global cognition measured by the CERAD‐K total scores and the scores of several CERAD‐K subdomains can be reliably predicted using the PLSR models.Conclusions: Our findings indicate different structural contributions to cognitive function in MCI and AD patients, implying that diffuse WM microstructural changes may precede hippocampal atrophy during the AD neurodegenerative process.
31 May 2020 in Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely produced synthetic chemical used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. We aimed to investigate the association between exposure to BPA and behavioral and cognitive function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and healthy controls. The study included 444 children aged from 6 to 10 years. The ADHD and control groups included 195 and 249 children, respectively. BPA levels were assessed via urinalysis, while behavior was assessed using the Korean version of the ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) and the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-2). Cognitive function was assessed using the Continuous Performance Test (i.e., ADHD Diagnostic System [ADS]). Participants were categorized into tertile groups based on urinary BPA concentration. Scores on the K-ARS and the hyperactivity, aggression, anxiety, and depression subscales of the BASC-2 were significantly different among tertile groups for urinary BPA levels. Scores on visual omission error, commission error, response time variability, and auditory commission error of the ADS were significantly different among three BPA groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that these differences of behavior and cognition among three BPA groups were observed in only boys and normal controls. Exposure to BPA was associated with unfavorable behavioral and cognitive outcomes. Our study extends the findings of previous studies regarding the association between BPA exposure and behavior/cognitive function by including children with ADHD. Further studies are required to determine the mechanisms underlying sex- and group-based differences in these associations.