title: Evaluation of cerebellar asymmetry in Alzheimer's disease: a stereological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and, as previous studies have indicated, degenerative changes in the cerebellum occur in AD. It is well known that the cerebellum does not have a symmetric morphology and some pathological disorders, such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, autism and alcoholism, can cause asymmetrical changes in the cerebellum. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether or not patients with AD show cerebellar asymmetry. We also intended to depict the probable volumetric asymmetry by using a stereological technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study evaluated the volumetric measurements of each cerebellar hemisphere by applying a stereological method to MR images. This age- and gender-matched study was composed of 15 patients with probable AD and 14 healthy subjects (controls). MR images were analyzed by using the point-counting approach, holding to Cavalieri's principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there was significant cerebellar atrophy in AD patients, the study showed no statistically significant cerebellar asymmetry according to age and gender, both in the study and control groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference in cerebellar asymmetry associated with age and gender between the AD patients and control subjects. The stereological evaluation of cerebellar asymmetry correlating with gender is of importance to both clinicians and anatomists. The technique is simple, inexpensive, reliable and unbiased.
authors: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. yilmazozge@hotmail.com
authors: Ozge Yilmaz
authors: OY
authors: Kusbeci
authors: Orhan
authors: O
authors: Bas
authors: Nuket
authors: N
authors: Gocmen-Mas
authors: Hamit Selim
authors: HS
authors: Karabekir
authors: Aylin
authors: A
authors: Yucel
authors: Tolga
authors: T
authors: Ertekin
authors: Ayse Canan
authors: AC
authors: Yazici
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics