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NVvR Wetenschapsprijs 2011

(beter bekend als de Radiologendagenprijs) voor aios radiologie met het beste wetenschappelijk werk en presentatie tijdens de Radiologendagen:
 


  
Daniel Bos, Erasmus MC Rotterdam


ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION IN RELATION TO COGNITION AND STRUCTURAL BRAIN CHANGES
D. Bos, M.W. Vernooij, S.E. Elias-Smale, G.P. Krestin, A. Hofman, W.J. Niessen, J.C.M. Witteman, A. van der Lugt, M.A. Ikram
Erasmus Medisch Centrum, Rotterdam

Purpose: Atherosclerosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cognitive decline and dementia. Calcified plaque measured with CT is a
marker of atherosclerosis. This study investigates associations between CT-measured arterial calcifications measured at four locations, with cognition and macro- and microstructural brain changes.

Method and materials: From the general population, 2437 participants underwent CT of the coronary arteries, aortic arch, extracranial and intracranial carotid arteries to quantify calcification volume. Cognitive function was assessed in the following domains: memory, executive function, information processing speed and motor speed. In a random subgroup of 844 participants brain MRI was performed to obtain measures of brain atrophy. Automated quantification of brain MRI scans yielded tissuespecific brain volumes. Furthermore, microstructural integrity of white matter was quantified using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Associations between arterial calcification and cognition, brain tissue volumes and DTI-measures were assessed with linear regression, adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results: Larger calcification load was associated with worse cognitive scores in all domains. Calcification in all vessel beds was also associated with smaller total brain volume. Specifically, coronary calcification was associated with smaller grey matter volume, whilst both extra- and intracranial carotid artery calcification was associated with smaller white matter volume. Calcification in all vessel beds was associated with worse microstructural integrity of white matter.

Conclusion: Arterial calcification load is associated with worse cognitive performance. Moreover, larger calcification load is associated with smaller brain tissue volumes and with worse white matter microstructural quality, elucidating possible mechanisms through which atherosclerosis leads to poorer cognition.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



 

 




 

  • vr 18 november 2011 15:52