File(s) not publicly available
Mild cognitive impairment: same identity for different entities
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 14:54 authored by Laura Serra, Giovanni Giulietti, Mara Cercignani, Barbara Spanò, Mario Torso, Diana Castelli, Roberta Perri, Lucia Fadda, Camillo Marra, Carlo Caltagirone, Marco BozzaliThis study investigates whether different patterns of grey matter (GM) loss may account for the different neuropsychological profiles observed in patients with amnestic (a-) and non-amnestic (na-) mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and may predict patients' clinical evolution. Fifty-five consecutive individuals complaining of cognitive dysfunction (referred to specialist dementia clinics) were screened and included in the study if they met the diagnostic criteria for MCI on a neurodegenerative basis. After an extensive neuropsychological assessment, patients were classified as suffering from a-MCI or na-MCI. Twenty-eight healthy individuals were also recruited and served as controls. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 3T, including conventional images and volumetric scans. Volumetric data were processed using voxel-based morphometry to assess between-group differences in regional GM volumes and correlations with neuropsychological performances. When compared to controls, a-MCI patients showed prominent GM volume reductions in the medial temporal lobes, while those with na-MCI showed reduced GM volumes in the orbito-frontal cortex and basal ganglia. In a-MCI patients, significant associations were found between verbal long-term memory performance and GM volumes in the hippocampus. Conversely, in na-MCI patients, associations were found between scores at tests exploring executive functions and GM volumes in the orbito-frontal cortex. At one-year follow-up, conversions were recorded exclusively toward Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the a-MCI group, and toward non-AD dementia in the na-MCI group. This study confirms that MCI is a heterogeneous clinical identity including different neurodegenerative entities; specific patterns of regional GM loss appear to account for specific neuropsychological features and are likely to predict patients' clinical evolution.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Journal of Alzheimer's DiseaseISSN
1387-2877Publisher
IOS PressExternal DOI
Issue
4Volume
33Page range
1157-1165Department affiliated with
- BSMS Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes