The relationship between cholinergic system brain structure and function in healthy adults and patients with mild cognitive impairment

Peter, Jessica; Mayer, Isabella; Kammer, Thomas; Minkova, Lora; Lahr, Jacob; Klöppel, Stefan; Grothe, Michel J.; Orth, Michael (2021). The relationship between cholinergic system brain structure and function in healthy adults and patients with mild cognitive impairment. Scientific Reports, 11(1), p. 16080. Nature Publishing Group 10.1038/s41598-021-95573-8

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We assessed the structure-function relationship of the human cholinergic system and hypothesized that structural measures are associated with short-latency sensory afferent inhibition (SAI), an electrophysiological measure of central cholinergic signal transmission. Healthy volunteers (n = 36) and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 20) underwent median nerve SAI and 3T structural MRI to determine the volume of the basal forebrain and the thalamus. Patients with MCI had smaller basal forebrain (p < 0.001) or thalamus volumes (p < 0.001) than healthy volunteers. Healthy SAI responders (> 10% SAI) had more basal forebrain volume than non-responders (p = 0.004) or patients with MCI (p < 0.001). More basal forebrain volume was associated with stronger SAI in healthy volunteers (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) but not patients with MCI. There was no significant relationship between thalamus volumes and SAI. Basal forebrain volume is associated with cholinergic function (SAI) in healthy volunteers but not in MCI patients. The in-vivo investigation of the structure-function relationship could further our understanding of the human cholinergic system in patients with suspected or known cholinergic system degeneration.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Geriatric Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Peter, Jessica, Minkova, Lora Guintcheva, Klöppel, Stefan, Orth, Michael

ISSN:

2045-2322

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

Language:

English

Submitter:

Katharina Klink

Date Deposited:

30 Aug 2021 15:41

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:52

Publisher DOI:

10.1038/s41598-021-95573-8

PubMed ID:

34373525

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/158031

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/158031

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