| Popis: |
Background A growing body of literature suggests an important role of the thalamus in cognition and neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to elucidate whether the preoperative thalamic volume is associated with preoperative cognitive impairment (preCI) and predictive for postoperative cognitive dysfunction at 3 months (POCD). We also examined if postoperative changes in thalamic volume can be observed in patients with POCD. Methods We enrolled 301 patients aged 65 or older and without signs of dementia, who were undergoing elective surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging was conducted prior to surgery. Freesurfer (version 5.3.) was used to automatically segment the thalamus volume. A neuropsychological test battery was administered before surgery and at a 3 month follow up. It contained the computerized tests Paired Associate Learning (PAL), Verbal Recognition Memory (VRM), Spatial Span Length (SSP), Simple Reaction Time (SRT), the pen-and-paper Trail-Making-Test (TMT) and the manual Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT). A reliable change index was used determine preCI and POCD. For statistical analyses, multivariable logistic regression models were applied. Age, sex and intracranial volume were inserted into the models as covariates. Results Of 301 patients who received a presurgical neuropsychological testing and MRI, 34 (11.3%) had preCI. 89 patients (29.5%) were lost to follow-up. The remaining 212 patients received a follow-up cognitive testing after 3 months, of whom 25 (8.3%) presented with POCD. Neither preCI (p = 0.14) nor in POCD (p = 0.87) were statistically significantly associated with patients’ preoperative thalamus volume. Conclusions Presurgical thalamus volume was not associated with preCI or POCD. In our cohort we could not show an association of thalamus volume as biomarker candidate with preCI or POCD. |
