Vitamin D and white matter abnormalities in older adults: a quantitative volumetric analysis of brain MRI.

Authors

Cédric Annweiler, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Angers University Hospital; UPRES EA4638, University of Angers, UNAM, France; Research Center on Autonomy and Longevity (CeRAL), Angers, France; Robarts Research Institute, Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Western Ontario, London, ON, CanadaFollow
Robert Bartha, Robarts Research Institute, Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Spyridon N Karras, Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Jennifer Gautier, Research Center on Autonomy and Longevity (CeRAL), Angers, France
Frédéric Roche, Service de Physiologie Clinique et de l'Exercice, CHU Saint-Etienne; EA 4607 "SNA EPIS" Faculté de Médecine Jacques Lisfranc UJM; PRES Université de Lyon 42023, France
Olivier Beauchet, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Angers University Hospital; UPRES EA4638, University of Angers, UNAM, France; Research Center on Autonomy and Longevity (CeRAL), Angers, France; Biomathics, Paris, France

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2015

Journal

Experimental gerontology

Volume

63

First Page

41

Last Page

47

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1016/j.exger.2015.01.049

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with brain changes. Our objective was to investigate whether vitamin D insufficiency was associated with a greater volume in mm(3) of white matter abnormalities (WMA) in older adults.

METHODS: Seventy-five Caucasian older community-dwellers (mean, 70.9 ± 5.0 years; 48%female) received a blood test and brain MRI. The volumes of total white matter (WM) and WMA were measured from T1-weighted MR images using automatic, accurate and reproducible segmentation of the brain provided by FreeSurfer. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined a priori as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D/L. Age, gender, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, use of anti-vascular drugs, education level, Mini-Mental State Examination score, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living score, serum calcium concentration, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and season of evaluation were used as potential confounders.

RESULTS: Participants with vitamin D insufficiency (n = 29) had a greater volume of WMA than the others (4233 ± 4359 mm(3) versus 2658 ± 1544 mm(3), P = 0.028), even after normalization for WM volume (P = 0.031). Vitamin D insufficiency was cross-sectionally associated with an increased ratio of WMA volume to WM volume (fully adjusted β = 0.35, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with increased WMA volume in the studied sample of older adults. These findings may provide insight into the pathophysiology of cognitive and mobility declines in older adults with vitamin D insufficiency.

Notes

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