Interuncal distance: marker of aging and Alzheimer disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of a recently reported simple measure of brain atrophy on MR imaging, the interuncal distance (IUD).


METHODS
Measurements of the IUD were made over a 12-month interval in 10 patients with probable early Alzheimer disease and in a comparison group of age-matched healthy control subjects. The measurements were made in both the transaxial and coronal planes.


RESULTS
Significant group differences for the coronal measurement of IUD were found in both the absolute value of the measurement and the IUD corrected for head size. There was overlap in IUD between the disease and the control groups. These differences were not found for the transaxial IUD. Significant positive correlations of the IUD with Mini-Mental State Examination score and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale stage were observed. Over the age range tested, age was not significantly correlated with IUD in the sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The interuncal distance (IUD) is not a useful screening measurement for Alzheimer disease.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
J
J
Howieson
J A
JA
Kaye
L
L
Holm
D
D
Howieson
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001284:Atrophy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*