Brain free‐water increases in mild behavioral impairment

Background Mild behavioural impairment (MBI) is proposed as a diagnostic construct to identify dementia-free individuals with sustained neuropsychiatric symptoms an early manifestation of dementia. Our previous study has demonstrated that MBI predicts faster cognitive decline and progression Other studies have shown was associated Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers for Aβ tau. However, cerebrovascular (CeVD), which another critical pathology in dementia, not been investigated MBI. Here, we sought test brain free-water (FW) alterations, marker CeVD, compared non-MBI participants their associations longitudinal changes cognition, function, symptoms. Method Longitudinal global scores, clinical dementia rating sum-of-boxes (CDR-SoB), inventory (NPI) over 5 years were reported 281 (40 241 non-MBI). diagnosed using established criteria. All underwent T1-weighted structural diffusion MRI at baseline. FW imaging method applied derive individual-level white matter (WM) grey (GM) maps from MRI. We baseline GM-FW WM-FW between subjects. then tested the MBI-related increase CDR-SB, NPI scores linear regression models. Result had greater executive control (prefrontal), motor sensory (precentral), attention (insula) memory (left temporal right cingulate cuneus) networks widespread higher (Fig-1). Both lower across all (Table-1). There no interaction effect status on such association. Moreover, worsening (Table-2). Interestingly, than (Fig-2). Conclusion This increased FW, may contributed relationship persistent disturbances outcomes. Early detection cerebrovascular-related alteration allow timely management before development