To investigate whether brain grey matter volume loss and motor cortex metabolite levels explain the association between dual-task cost and incident dementia in individuals with mild cognitive impairment, with a focus on identifying treatable brain regions.
Key Findings:
33 out of 139 participants progressed to dementia over the study period (P = 0.02).
High dual-task cost (≥20%) during cognitive tasks was associated with smaller grey matter volume in several brain structures (P < 0.05).
Mediation analyses revealed that grey matter volume loss in the right anterior and middle cingulate cortices mediated the association between dual-task cost and incident dementia.
Interpretation:
Smaller grey matter volume in the right anterior and middle cingulate cortices explains the link between high dual-task cost and the risk of developing dementia in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
Limitations:
The study is limited to individuals with mild cognitive impairment and may not generalize to other populations. Variability in longitudinal data collection may introduce assessment inconsistencies over time.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the potential of dual-task gait performance as a motor biomarker for dementia risk in mild cognitive impairment, emphasizing the critical role of specific brain regions in cognitive-motor interactions and their implications for early intervention.
by Pauline Ali, Frederico Pieruccini-Faria, Cédric Annweiler, Mickaël Dinomais, Surim Son, Scott K Wilson, Richard Camicioli, Susan Muir-Hunter, Robert Bartha, Manuel Montero-Odasso
