Supplementary Material for: Association between Deep Gray Matter Changes and Neurocognitive Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Tensor-Based Morphometric MRI Study

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Atrophy of the deep gray matter (DGM) has been associated with a risk of conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the degree of cognitive impairment. However, specific knowledge of the associations between degenerative DGM changes and neurocognitive functions remains limited. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To examine degenerative DGM changes and evaluate their association with neurocognitive functions. <b><i>Method:</i></b> We examined DGM volume changes with tensor-based morphometry (TBM) and analyzed the relationships between DGM changes and neurocognitive functions in control (<i>n</i> = 58), MCI (<i>n</i> = 38), and AD (<i>n</i> = 58) groups with multiple linear regression analyses. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In all DGM areas, the AD group had the largest changes in TBM volume. The differences in TBM volume changes were larger between the control group and the AD group than between the other pairs of groups. In the AD group, volume changes of the right thalamus were significantly associated with episodic memory, learning, and semantic processing. Significant or trend-level associations were identified between bilateral caudate nucleus changes and episodic memory as well as semantic processing. In the control and MCI groups, very few significant associations emerged. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Atrophy of the DGM structures, especially the thalamus and caudate nucleus, is related to cognitive impairment in AD. DGM atrophy is associated with tests reflecting both subcortical and cortical cognitive functions.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> 深部灰质核团（deep gray matter, DGM）萎缩与轻度认知障碍（mild cognitive impairment, MCI）向阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）转化的风险及认知障碍程度相关，但目前对于退行性深部灰质核团改变与神经认知功能之间的具体关联仍知之甚少。<b><i>Objective:</i></b> 本研究旨在探讨退行性深部灰质核团改变，并评估其与神经认知功能的关联。<b><i>Method:</i></b> 本研究采用基于张量的形态测量学（tensor-based morphometry, TBM）分析深部灰质核团体积变化，并通过多元线性回归分析，对比对照组（<i>n</i> = 58）、轻度认知障碍组（<i>n</i> = 38）及阿尔茨海默病组（<i>n</i> = 58）的深部灰质核团改变与神经认知功能之间的关系。<b><i>Results:</i></b> 所有深部灰质核团区域中，阿尔茨海默病组的基于张量的形态测量学体积变化幅度最大；对照组与阿尔茨海默病组之间的基于张量的形态测量学体积变化差异，大于其余任意两组间的差异。在阿尔茨海默病组中，右侧丘脑的体积变化与情景记忆、学习能力及语义加工能力显著相关；双侧尾状核的体积变化与情景记忆及语义加工能力存在显著或接近显著的关联趋势。在对照组与轻度认知障碍组中，此类显著关联极少出现。<b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> 深部灰质核团结构萎缩，尤其是丘脑与尾状核的萎缩，与阿尔茨海默病患者的认知障碍相关；深部灰质核团萎缩与反映皮层下及皮层认知功能的测试结果均存在关联。