Clinical significance of corpus callosum atrophy in a mixed elderly population

Neurobiol Aging. 2007 Jun;28(6):955-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.04.008. Epub 2006 Jun 23.

Abstract

Corpus callosum (CC) is the main tract connecting the hemispheres, but the clinical significance of CC atrophy is poorly understood. The aim of this work was to investigate clinical and functional correlates of CC atrophy in subjects with age-related white matter changes (ARWMC). In 569 elderly subjects with ARWMC from the Leukoaraiosis And DISability (LADIS) study, the CC was segmented on the normalised mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) slice and subdivided into five regions. Correlations between the CC areas and subjective memory complaints, mini mental state examination (MMSE) score, history of depression, geriatric depression scale (GDS) score, subjective gait difficulty, history of falls, walking speed, and total score on the short physical performance battery (SPPB) were analyzed. Significant correlations between CC atrophy and MMSE, SPPB, and walking speed were identified, and the CC areas were smaller in subjects with subjective gait difficulty. The correlations remained significant after correction for ARWMC grade. In conclusion, CC atrophy was independently associated with impaired global cognitive and motor function in subjects with ARWMC.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / pathology*
  • Atrophy
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology*
  • Corpus Callosum / physiopathology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / etiology
  • Disabled Persons
  • Female
  • Gait / physiology
  • Humans
  • Leukoaraiosis / pathology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed