Mapping cerebral connectivity changes after mild traumatic brain injury in older adults using diffusion tensor imaging and Riemannian matching of elastic curves

Abstract

Although diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can identify white matter (WM) alterations due to mild cases of traumatic brain injury (mTBI), the task of within-subject longitudinal matching of DTI streamlines remains challenging in this condition. Here we combine (A) automatic, atlas-informed labeling of WM streamline clusters with (B) streamline prototyping and (C) Riemannian matching of elastic curves to quantitate within-subject WM changes, focusing on the arcuate fasciculus. The approach is demonstrated in a group of geriatric mTBI patients imaged acutely and ~6 months post-injury. Results highlight the utility of differential geometry approaches when quantifying brain connectivity alterations due to mTBI.