Journal article
White matter fractional anisotropy is inversely related to anxious symptoms in older adults with atherosclerosis
International journal of geriatric psychiatry, Vol.28(10), pp.1069-1076
10/2013
DOI: 10.1002/gps.3930
PMCID: PMC3690172
PMID: 23348834
Abstract
Objective
Clinical anxiety disorders are associated with white matter hyperintensities and diffusion abnormalities measured using diffusion tensor imaging. However, it is not known if this association extends into individuals with mild anxious symptoms without formal diagnosis, in those who are older, or in those who have atherosclerosis. The current study explores whether white matter integrity and/or organization significantly associates with anxious symptoms in older adults with and without atherosclerosis.
Methods
We recruited older adults (ages 55–90 years); 35 with clinically diagnosed atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD) and 22 without AVD. Anxious symptoms were measured using the validated Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised. Fractional anisotropy (FA), a proxy for white matter organization and health, was measured in the white matter globally, by lobe, and in several smaller regions of interest suggested by the literature. Partial correlations between anxious symptoms and FA were calculated, controlling for significant covariates.
Results
Participants with and without AVD did not differ in severity of anxious symptom endorsement. There was a unique inverse relationship between white matter health and anxious symptoms in the AVD participants, but not in healthy comparisons. Significant relationships were observed in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (r = −0.476, df = 32, p = 0.004), as well as the cingulum bundle, the frontal lobes, and the parietal lobes.
Conclusions
Anxiety symptoms uniquely correlated with low FA in older adults with atherosclerosis. These findings may have implications for future research on the topic of anxiety in aging and vascular disease and warrant replication. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- White matter fractional anisotropy is inversely related to anxious symptoms in older adults with atherosclerosis
- Creators
- Kelly R Bijanki - University of IowaAshley N Stillman - University of IowaStephan Arndt - University of Iowa College of Public HealthVincent A Magnotta - University of Iowa College of EngineeringJess G Fiedorowicz - University of Iowa College of Public HealthWilliam G Haynes - The University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineJoy T Matsui - University of Iowa College of EngineeringHans J Johnson - University of Iowa College of EngineeringDavid J Moser - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of geriatric psychiatry, Vol.28(10), pp.1069-1076
- DOI
- 10.1002/gps.3930
- PMID
- 23348834
- PMCID
- PMC3690172
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Geriatr Psychiatry
- ISSN
- 0885-6230
- eISSN
- 1099-1166
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- National Institutes on Aging (1 K23 AG020649‐01A1, RO1AG030417‐01A2) National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR024979)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2013
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biostatistics; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center; Medicine Administration; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984003921902771
Metrics
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