White matter integrity analysis along cingulum paths in mild cognitive impairment - A geodesic distance approach

We present a new analysis scheme to measure regional micro structural white matter (WM) changes along the major cingulum fiber bundles which may not be effectively performed by existing methods due to its curved geospatial feature. The primary advantages of the technique lie in the diffusion tensor imaging tractography and geodesic distance mapping. The volumetric major cingulum is represented by a reconstructed fiber bundle. Quantitative analysis of regional micro structural WM alterations is based on the geodesic distance mapping, which allows cross-subject evaluation of diffusion properties by establishing correspondences through reparameterizing the space of reconstructed fiber bundle as a function of geodesic distance. Evaluation of the technique explores regional fractional anisotropy degradations along the left cingulum path in amnestic mild cognitive impairment subjects. Our experimental results indicate that this approach is effective and may provide a more sensitive alternative to examining the WM integrity of brain neuronal connectivity.