Myelin water fraction decrease in individuals with chronic mild traumatic brain injury and persistent symptoms
Bretta Russell-Schulz,
Irene M. Vavasour,
Jing Zhang,
Alex L. MacKay,
Victoria Purcell,
Angela M. Muller,
Leyla R. Brucar,
Ivan J. Torres,
William J. Panenka,
Naznin Virji-Babul
Affiliations
Bretta Russell-Schulz
UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Irene M. Vavasour
UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jing Zhang
BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Alex L. MacKay
UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Victoria Purcell
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Angela M. Muller
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Leyla R. Brucar
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Ivan J. Torres
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada
William J. Panenka
BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Naznin Virji-Babul
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Corresponding author.
The diffuse and continually evolving secondary changes after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) make it challenging to assess alterations in brain-behaviour relationships. In this study we used myelin water imaging to evaluate changes in myelin water fraction (MWF) in individuals with chronic mTBI and persistent symptoms and measured their cognitive status using the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery. Fifteen adults with mTBI with persistent symptoms and twelve age, gender and education matched healthy controls took part in this study. We found a significant decrease in global white matter MWF in patients compared to the healthy controls. Significantly lower MWF was evident in most white matter region of interest (ROIs) examined including the corpus callosum (separated into genu, body and splenium), minor forceps, right anterior thalamic radiation, left inferior longitudinal fasciculus; and right and left superior longitudinal fasciculus and corticospinal tract. Although patients showed lower cognitive functioning, no significant correlations were found between MWF and cognitive measures. These results suggest that individuals with chronic mTBI who have persistent symptoms have reduced MWF.
