Callosal atrophy parallels decreased cortical oxygen metabolism and neuropsychological impairment in Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship of corpus callosum atrophy to cerebral cortical oxygen metabolism and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Prospective clinicoradiologic correlation with magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography.


METHODS
A university hospital.


METHODS
Ten right-handed male patients with Alzheimer's disease, aged 46 to 70 years (mean +/- SD 57 +/- 6 years), and 14 age- and sex-matched right-handed control subjects.


METHODS
The midsagittal corpus callosum areas (on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (measured with positron emission tomography using the oxygen-15 steady-state technique), and the IQs of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.


RESULTS
Compared with control subjects, the patients had significantly decreased callosal areas with a posterior predominance of the degree of atrophy. The area of anterior and posterior halves of the corpus callosum had a significant correlation with the value of oxygen metabolism in the frontal and parietotemporo-occipital association cortices, respectively. The total area of the corpus callosum was significantly related to the total and verbal IQs of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Atrophy of corpus callosum reflects the severity and pattern of cortical damage associated with hypometabolism and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease.
Yamauchi
H
H
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Fukuyama
H
H
Harada
K
K
Nabatame
H
H
Ogawa
M
M
Ouchi
Y
Y
Kimura
J
J
Konishi
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D010100:Oxygen