title: Neuroimaging findings in twins discordant for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Data from computed tomography (CT) scans of 12 twin pairs in which one partner had Azheimer's disease (AD) and the other partner is cognitively intact were analyzed to study structural brain features associated with AD while controlling for familial factors. Visual ratings and analysis of quantified areas and volumes indicated that AD twins showed more dilation of temporal horns, lateral ventricles and third ventricle, and more atrophy of temporal lobes, particularly in the anterior temporal/perisylvian area, than their healthy cotwins. Demented twins did not have smaller intracranial areas or overall brain volumes than their intact partners. The apolipoprotein sigma-4 allele was associated with greater dilation of lateral ventricles and ventricular volume. Significant intrapair correlations were found for total intracranial area and volume, cerebellar area and white matter lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., USA.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wetherell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallo
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Toga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Knutson
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mehringer
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013548:Sweden; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic