Changes in White Matter Microstructure over 3 Years in People with and Without Stroke

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesCerebral white matter health can be estimated by MRI-derived indices of microstructure. White matter dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a contributor to neurodegenerative disorders affecting cognition and to functional outcomes after stroke. Reduced indices of white matter microstructure have been demonstrated cross-sectionally in stroke survivors compared with stroke-free participants, but longitudinal changes in the structure of white matter after stroke remain largely unexplored. We aimed to characterize white matter micro-and macrostructure over 3 years after stroke and study associations with white matter metrics and cognitive functions.MethodsPatients wi..