Frontal interhemispheric structural connectivity, attention, and executive function in children with perinatal stroke

Perinatal stroke affects ∼1 in 1000 births and concomitant cognitive impairments such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and executive dysfunction can be disabling. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate whether stroke-related differences in frontal white matter (WM) relate to cognitive impa irments. WM metrics correlated with parental ratings of ADHD and executive function suggesting that underlying microstructure of frontal white matter quantified via tractography may provide a relevant biomarker associated with cognition and behavior in children with perinatal stroke. AbstractPerinatal stroke affects ∼1 in 1000 births and concomitant cognitive impairments are common but poorly understood. Rates of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are increased 5–10× and executive dysfunction can be disabling. We used diffusion imaging to investigate whether stroke-related differences in front al white matter (WM) relate to cognitive impairments. Anterior forceps were isolated using tractography and sampled along the tract. Resulting metrics quantified frontal WM microstructure. Associations between WM metrics and parent ratings of ADHD symptoms (ADHD-5 rating scale) and executive functio ning (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)) were explored. Eighty-three children were recruited (arterial ischemic stroke [AIS]n = 26; periventricular venous infarction [PVI]n = 26; controlsn = 31). WM metrics were altered for st...
Source: Brain and Behavior - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research