Magnetic resonance imaging volume of the angular gyri predicts financial skill deficits in people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand how brain atrophy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetrics could affect instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as financial abilities.


METHODS
Controlled, matched-sample, cross-sectional analysis regressing MRI volumetrics with financial performance measures.


METHODS
University medical and research center.


METHODS
Thirty-eight people with MCI and 28 older adult controls.


METHODS
MRI volumetric measurement of the hippocampi, angular gyri, precunei, and medial frontal lobes. Participants also completed neuropsychological tests and the Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI).


RESULTS
Correlations were performed between FCI scores and MRI volumes in the group with MCI. People with MCI performed significantly below controls on the FCI and had significantly smaller hippocampi. Among people with MCI, performance on the FCI was moderately correlated with angular gyri and precunei volumes. Regression models demonstrated that angular gyrus volumes were predictive of FCI scores. Tests of mediation showed that measures of arithmetic and possibly attention partially mediated the relationship between angular gyrus volume and FCI score.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired financial abilities in amnestic MCI correspond with volume of the angular gyri as mediated by arithmetic knowledge. The findings suggest that early neuropathology within the lateral parietal region in MCI leads to a breakdown of cognitive abilities that affect everyday financial skills. The findings have implications for diagnosis and clinical care of people with MCI and AD.
Griffith
H Randall
HR
Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. rlgriffith@uabmc.edu
Stewart
Christopher C
CC
Stoeckel
Luke E
LE
Okonkwo
Ozioma C
OC
den Hollander
Jan A
JA
Martin
Roy C
RC
Belue
Katherine
K
Copeland
Jacquelynn N
JN
Harrell
Lindy E
LE
Brockington
John C
JC
Clark
David G
DG
Marson
Daniel C
DC
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis