Relationship between temporal projections and cognition in patients with putaminal hemorrhage

BackgroundThe cognitive function is a complex mental process involving the temporal projections (cingulum, superior longitudinal fasciculus[SLF], inferior longitudinal fasciculus[ILF], and uncinate fasciculus[UF]). Therefore, a brain injury involving the temporal projections results in cognitive impairment. However, few studies have reported the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with cognitive impairment in patients with putaminal hemorrhage(PH). In this study, using diffusion tensor tractography(DTT), the relationship between the temporal projections and cognition was analyzed in patients with PH. Methods25 patients with PH were recruited for this study. A Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE) was conducted twice to evaluate their cognitive function(within one month and six months after onset). The temporal projections(cingulum, SLF, ILF, and UF) were reconstructed and the values of DTT parameters were measured. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were also performed to determine the relationship between the DTT parameters of the temporal projections and the MMSE. ResultsAn analysis of the correlations showed that the fractional anisotropy and fiber number ratio of the UF were correlated with the MMSE performed within one month and six months after onset. In addition, the fiber number of the UF on the MMSE at six months from the onset had an explanatory power of 33% and showed the 0.064 for unstandardized coefficients. ConclusionsUsing DTT, this study demonstrated that among the temporal projections, the state of the UF in patients with PH could be the most significant indicator of cognitive function. Our results suggested that evaluation of the UF using DTT could be useful in predicting the cognitive function following PH.