Morphometric analyses of brain atrophy in Diabetes type 2: evidence from both T1 and T2 MRI

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes (DM2) is associated with brain atrophy and microvascular pathology. However, the available literature is poor concerning the distribution of brain atrophy in DM2. We aimed to study the regional distribution of brain atrophy in DM2, with an emphasis on vascular anomalies, analyzing both T1 and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. METHODS: This study used MRI scans in 34 participants with DM2 and 42 participants without DM2. Voxel-based morphometry was used to study the regional distribution of atrophy in DM2. T1-weighted scans were analyzed with the usual intent of identifying anatomical abnormalities in brain tissue, whereas T2-weighted scans were used to assess both anatomical and vascular disturbances. RESULTS: T1-VBM showed a bilateral distribution of atrophy, affecting mainly the sub-lobar and insular areas, but also the occipital and temporal lobes. T2-VBM showed similar patterns, namely atrophy in the limbic lobe, as well as in the sub-lobar, insular and temporal areas, all bilaterally. An ANOVA test allowed to visualize the overlapping areas of both analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we found that gray-matter atrophy in DM2 patients is bilaterally distributed in the sub-lobar and insular areas, as well as in the temporal and occipital lobes and limbic system.