Functional Relationship with MR Elastography Measures of Basal Ganglia Stiffness in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Motivation: Brain mechanical properties from MR Elastography (MRE) may be useful in identifying individuals in a stage of disease progression primed for intervention success. Goal(s): Establish MRE for identifying the basal ganglia (BG) as a region of interest associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) progression and potential target for intervention. Approach: We examine BG differences with MRE and cognitive testing in MCI subjects and cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls, and the effects of exercise intervention. Results: BG stiffness correlates with fluid cognition in MCI. Some MCI subjects had higher BG stiffness than CU with similar fluid cognition scores and improved with exercise intervention. Impact: Basal ganglia stiffness correlates with function in people with MCI. MCI subjects with higher stiffness than controls experience improved mechanical and functional measures following exercise intervention. The MCI diagnosis may have specific subtypes that have different potential for intervention success.