title: Predicting conversion to dementia in mild cognitive impairment by volumetric and diffusivity measurements of the hippocampus.
abstract: In our prospective study of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we measured hippocampal mean diffusivity (MD) and volumes in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirteen MCI patients were followed-up by clinical assessment over a mean 112-year period. MCI patients who converted to dementia (6 of 13) during the observation period had slightly elevated left hippocampal mean diffusivity at baseline compared with MCI patients who remained clinically stable. Hippocampal volumes as well as baseline verbal memory and MMSE did not differ significantly between stable MCI patients and converters. Hippocampal diffusivity was superior to hippocampal volumes for prediction of conversion to dementia in MCI patients during a 112-year period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Strasse 8, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. fellgiebel@psychiatrie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fellgiebel
authors.forename: Paulo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dellani
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greverus
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheurich
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stoeter
authors.forename: Matthias J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index