Volumetric correlates of memory and executive function in normal elderly, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), atrophy negatively impacts cognition while in healthy adults, inverse relationships between brain volume and cognition may occur. We investigated correlations between gray matter volume and cognition in elderly controls, AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients with memory and executive deficits. AD demonstrated substantial loss in temporal, parietal and frontal regions while MCI exhibited moderate volume loss in temporal and frontal regions. In controls, memory and executive function were negatively correlated with frontal regions, while in AD, memory was positively correlated with temporal and frontal gyri, and executive function with frontal regions. The combination of the two patterns may explain the lack of correlations in MCI. Developmental versus pathological contributions to these relationships are discussed.
Duarte
Audrey
A
Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco VA Medical Center, CA, USA. audrey.duarte@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
Hayasaka
Satoru
S
Du
Antao
A
Schuff
Norbert
N
Jahng
Geon-Ho
GH
Kramer
Joel
J
Miller
Bruce
B
Weiner
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests