title: Neuropsychological correlates of hippocampal atrophy in memory testing in nondemented older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive deficits in older adults attributable to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology are featured early on by hippocampal impairment. Among tests used to evaluate memory, verbal memory tests with controlled encoding and cued recall are believed to be specific for hippocampal impairment. The objective of this study was to assess the relation between left and right hippocampal volumes and several frequently used memory tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty six nondemented older adults (30 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 26 cognitively healthy older adults) underwent neuropsychological testing including: (1) The Enhanced Cued Recall test (ECR), a memory test with controlled encoding and recall; (2) the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), a verbal memory test without controlled encoding and with delayed recall; and (3) The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test (ROCF), a visuospatial memory test-recall condition. 1.5T brain MRI scans were used to measure estimated total intracranial volume (eTIV) along with hippocampal right and left volumes, which were measured with quantitative volumetry using FreeSurfer package (version 4.4.0). Spearman partial correlation controlled for age was used to correct for non-normal score distribution and effect of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found moderate correlations of hippocampal volumes with AVLT 1-5 scores, AVLT delayed recall, ECR free and total recall, and ROCF reproduction. Total recall in ECR using cued recall was not superior to any of the free recall tests. No correlation in any memory test was achieved with eTIV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Verbal memory tests, either with controlled encoding and cued delayed recall (ECR), or without it (AVLT), as well as nonverbal memory test with delayed recall (ROCF), equally reflect hippocampal atrophy in nondemented older adults.
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vyhnalek
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikolai
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andel
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nedelska
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubínová
authors.affiliation: Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marková
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laczó
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, 1st Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bezdicek
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheardova
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hort
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment; MRI; episodic memory; hippocampus