Associations between brain structures, cognition and dual-task performance in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A study based on voxel-based morphology

Background

This study aimed to explore the associations between brain structures, cognition, and motor control in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with a focus on dual-task performance.

Methods

Thirty MCI patients and thirty healthy controls were enrolled. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to calculate brain parenchyma volume and gray matter volume (GMV). Participants performed single- and dual-task Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, and the correlations between significant GMV differences and task execution time was analyzed.

Results

MCI patients showed significantly lower MoCA scores, particularly in visuospatial/executive, attention, and delayed recall domains (p < 0.05). Dual-task TUG execution time was significantly increased in MCI patients (p < 0.05). The GMV in the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and both insulae was positively correlated with visuospatial/executive scores (FDR-corrected, p < 0.05). The GMV of the right cerebellar anterior lobe and insula were significantly reduced in MCI patients (p < 0.05). The GMV of the right cerebellar anterior lobe was negatively correlated with dual-task execution time (r = −0.32, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

Smaller GMV in the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum was associated with impaired dual-task performance, which may provide more evidence for the neural mechanisms of cognitive and motor function impairments in MCI.