Microstructural changes in cerebral white matter in patients with Alzheimer's disease combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Motivation: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the association between T2DM and microstructural changes in AD remains unclear. Goal(s): The effect of T2DM on the microstructure of brain white matter in AD patients was investigated using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Approach: The parameters were obtained using FSL to compare the white matter fibre brain areas that were differentiated between the AD+T2DM and AD-T2DM groups. Results: Compared with the AD-T2DM, the AD+T2DM group had higher MD, AD, and RD values in the forceps minor, bilateral anterior thalamic radiations, left superior longitudinal fasciculus, and bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Impact: Alzheimer's disease combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients present with altered cerebral white matter microstructure, and TBSS-based DTI analysis can objectively localise and quantitatively evaluate cerebral white matter microstructural changes.