title: Subclinical declines in the verbal fluency and motor regulation of patients with AVIM (asymptomatic ventriculomegaly with features of idiopathic NPH on MRI): a case-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported that, on brain MRI, iNPH features were observed in approximately 1% of asymptomatic elderly community dwellers. This phenomenon is designated asymptomatic ventriculomegaly with features of iNPH on MRI (AVIM). The aim of the present study was to clarify whether a subclinical decline in the neuropsychological function is present in patients with AVIM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined eight subjects with AVIM, six subjects with possible iNPH and 21 elderly controls. Neuropsychological tests were used, including the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Hasegawa dementia scale-revised (HDS-R), the frontal assessment battery (FAB), the trail making test A&B and semantic and letter verbal fluency tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing the individuals with AVIM with the control subjects, significant differences were found in the scores achieved on the semantic verbal fluency tests and Luria's motor series (fist-edge-palm), a subtest of the FAB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that individuals with AVIM demonstrate a slight subclinical decline in the cognitive function and motor regulation, which may represent a prodromal stage of iNPH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Japan. chi-iseki@hyper.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Chifumi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iseki
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawanami
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology