Age-dependent structural connectivity effects in fragile x premutation.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of premutation alleles on major brain fiber tracts in males. DESIGN Cross-sectional study performed in 2007-2009. SETTING Institutional practice. PATIENTS Fifteen younger (18-45 years old) carriers, 11 older (>45 years old) unaffected carriers, and 15 older carriers with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, together with 19 younger and 15 older controls matched by age and educational level. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Diffusion tensor imaging was performed on all study participants. Eleven fiber tracts important for motor, social, emotional, and cognitive functions were reconstructed and quantified. Complementary tract-based spatial statistical analyses were performed in core white matter. RESULTS In the younger carriers, premutation status was associated with a greater age-related connectivity decline in the extreme capsule. Among older carriers, unaffected individuals did not display structural alterations, whereas the affected carriers showed connectivity loss in 5 fiber tracts and exhibited greater age-related connectivity decline in all 11 tracts compared with the controls. In addition, 9 fiber tracts showed significantly higher variability relative to the controls, and symptom severity explained the variability in 6 measurements from the superior cerebellar peduncle, corpus callosum, and cingulum. CONCLUSIONS The findings revealed widespread alterations in structural connectivity associated with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and preserved or subtle changes in structural connectivity in unaffected carriers. Diffusion tensor imaging is sensitive to pathologic changes in the white matter associated with this neurodegenerative disorder. Wang et al examine the effects of premutation alleles on major brain fiber tracts in males, who are at risk of developing fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and may manifest subtle cognitive, social, and emotional disturbances before clinical involvement.