Preclinical evidence of Alzheimer changes in progressive mild cognitive impairment: a qualitative and quantitative SPECT study.
OBJECTIVE
Baseline brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can predict mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients at risk for progressive MCI (PMCI).


METHODS
Twenty-eight subjects [12 MCI, 6 with probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and 10 normal subjects] underwent baseline brain SPECT and were clinically followed for a mean period of 36 months.


RESULTS
Of 12 MCI patients, 6 progressed to PMCI and 6 remained stable. Baseline SPECT identified asymmetric perfusion reduction in the parahippocampus (-5%), lateral parietal (-8%), and posterior cingulate (-11%) cortices--reductions consistent with that of mild AD--in five of the six PMCI patients. Significant perfusion reduction was observed particularly in the frontal cortices of probable AD when compared with PMCI (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Baseline SPECT can identify brain perfusion abnormalities among patients with MCI for progression to PMCI. This imaging modality may aid in MCI treatment stratification.
Ishiwata
A
A
Department of Neurology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. akiko081@nms.ac.jp
Sakayori
O
O
Minoshima
S
S
Mizumura
S
S
Kitamura
S
S
Katayama
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon