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. 2010 Jul;31(7):1077-88.
doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.08.008. Epub 2008 Sep 24.

Subregional hippocampal atrophy predicts Alzheimer's dementia in the cognitively normal

Liana G Apostolova  1 , Lisa Mosconi, Paul M Thompson, Amity E Green, Kristy S Hwang, Anthony Ramirez, Rachel Mistur, Wai H Tsui, Mony J de Leon
Affiliations

Subregional hippocampal atrophy predicts Alzheimer's dementia in the cognitively normal

Liana G Apostolova et al. Neurobiol Aging. 2010 Jul.

Abstract

Atrophic changes of the hippocampus are typically regarded as an early sign of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Using the radial distance atrophy mapping approach, we compared the longitudinal MRI data of 10 cognitively normal elderly subjects who remained normal at 3-year and 6-year follow-up (NL-NL) and 7 cognitively normal elderly subjects who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) 2.8 (range 2.0-3.9) and with AD 6.8 years (range 6.1-8.2) after baseline (NL-MCI(AD)). 3D statistical maps revealed greater hippocampal atrophy in the NL-MCI(AD) relative to the NL-NL group at baseline (left p=0.05; right p=0.06) corresponding to 10-15% CA1, and 10-25% subicular atrophy, and bilateral differences at 3-year follow-up (left p=0.001, right p<0.02) corresponding to 10-30% subicular, 10-20% CA1, and 10-20% newly developed CA2-3 atrophy. This preliminary study suggests that excess CA1 and subicular atrophy is present in cognitively normal individuals predestined to decline to amnestic MCI, while progressive involvement of the CA1 and subiculum, and atrophy spreading to the CA2-3 subfield in amnestic MCI, suggests future diagnosis of AD.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Thompson, Ms. Green and Ms. Mistur have no conflicts of interest. Ms. Hwang and Mr. Ramirez have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Baseline 3-D comparison maps of the NL-NL and the NL-MCIAD groups. The significance maps show regions with significantly more atrophy in the NL-MCIAD group at baseline (middle row). The ratio maps (bottom row) show the quantitative between-group differences (in %). The subfield definitions (top row) are based on Duvernoy (1988) and West and Gundersen (1990). In the significance maps, dark blue colors denote p-values of 0.1 or higher.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Follow-up 3-D comparison maps of the NL-NL and the NL-MCIAD groups. The significance maps show regions with significantly more atrophy in the NL-MCIAD group at follow-up (middle row). The ratio maps (bottom row) show the quantitative between-group differences (in %). The subfield definitions (top row) based on Duvernoy (1988) and West and Gundersen (1990). In the significance maps, dark blue colors denote p-values of 0.1 or higher.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(A) 3-D longitudinal quantitative within-group hippocampal radial atrophy maps (in %). (Annualized atrophy change—left panel, 3-year atrophy change—right panel.) (B) 3-D statistical maps comparing the annual (left panel) and 3-year (right panel) atrophy rate of the NL-NL vs. the NL-MCIAD.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
3-D quantitative maps depicting the absolute interim atrophy in NL-NL vs. NL-MCIAD (i.e., 3-year change from baseline to follow-up computed by subtracting the ratio maps at baseline from those at follow-up).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
3-D radial distance variability maps (in S.D.) of the NL-NL and the NL-MCIAD groups at baseline (top row) and follow-up (bottom row).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
3-D cognitive correlations maps. The significance maps (top) show the regions where significant negative correlations between the given cognitive measure and hippocampal atrophy was observed. The correlation maps (bottom) show the regional strength of the cognitive correlation. In the significance maps, dark blue colors denote p-values of 0.1 or higher.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
3-D cognitive correlations maps in the NL-NL group.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
3-D cognitive correlations maps in the NL-MCIAD group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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