Neuropsychology, Vol 37(1), Jan 2023, 20-31; doi:10.1037/neu0000861
Objective: Determine whether glucose uptake as measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging is associated with cognitive performance and cognitive deficits in active duty service members with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Method: 287 patients with a history of mTBI underwent FDG-PET scans at rest and neuropsychological testing at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Glucose uptake in the bilateral frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes, and 58 cortical/cerebellar regions were correlated with seven neuropsychological composite scores, with and without relevant covariates. Results: Perceptual reasoning correlated with bilateral hippocampi glucose uptake (rs = .141–.165, p r = −.134, p = .034), and working memory was related to glucose uptake in the left parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes (rs = .128–.140, p OR = .745, p = .041); however, this did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: After correction for multiple comparisons, there was no significant relationship between regional glucose uptake and neurocognitive performance or cognitive deficits. Glucose uptake as measured by FDG-PET is not indicative of cognitive performance in active duty service members with a remote history of mTBI. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)