White matter fiber integrity

White matter fiber integrity refers to the anatomical and microstructural health of myelinated axonal tracts (white matter) that relay electrical impulses between different regions of the brain and spinal cord[3][9]. It is most commonly assessed using neuroimaging techniques, notably diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which quantifies parameters like fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity to reflect the degree of fiber organization, myelination, and tract coherence[2][7]. Decline in white matter integrity, seen as reduced FA or increased MD on imaging, is observed in aging, neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive impairments[5][6][8]. The integrity of these fibers underpins efficiency in neural transmission and is crucial for cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and executive function[3][5]. In research and clinical practice, white matter integrity serves as a biomarker for disease progression, neurological dysfunction, and therapeutic response, but is not in itself a direct molecular target for drugs or interventions.

Other names

White matter integrityWhite matter microstructural integrityWhite matter tract integrity