Researchers from Brown University discuss findings in neurology.

According to recent research published in the journal Neuroimage, "We present new quantitative diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) tractography-based metrics for assessing cerebral white matter integrity. These metrics extend prior work in this area."

"Tractography models of cerebral white matter were produced from each subject's DTI data. The models are a set of curves (e.g., ''streamtubes'') derived from DTI data that represent the underlying topography of the cerebral white matter. Nine metrics were calculated in whole brain tractography models and in three ''tracts-of-interest'': transcallosal fibers and the left and right cingulum bundles. The metrics included the number of streamtubes and several other based on the Summed length of streamtubes, including some that were weighted by scalar anisotropy metrics and normalized for estimated intracranial volume. We then tested whether patients with subcortical ischemic Vascular disease (i.e., Vascular cognitive impairment or VCI) vs. healthy controls (HQ differed oil the metrics. The metrics were significantly lower in the VCI group in whole brain and in transcallosal fibers but not in the left or right cingulum bundles. The metrics correlated significantly with cognitive functions known to be impacted by white matter abnormalities ...