title: Regional Gray Matter Atrophy in Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to explore the neuroanatomical bases of vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) with respect to attention/executive function, memory, language, and visuospatial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used voxel-based morphometric analysis to identify brain regions that significantly differed in terms of gray matter volumes (GMVs) between 43 patients with VaMCI and 55 healthy controls. Then, we compared the individual GMVs of the selected regions with the neuropsychological profiles of the VaMCI patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The delayed recall component of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (CFT) (74.4%), the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (74.4%), the Boston Naming Test (51.2%), and the CFT-copy (81.4%) shared the highest incidence of impairment in the 4 cognitive domains, respectively. Compared with controls, patients with VaMCI exhibited significantly reduced GMVs. This effect was mainly present in the frontal regions, including the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the orbital portion of the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and the left supplemental motor area, and was also observed in the bilateral posterior cingulated cortex (PCC). GMVs were significantly correlated with performance in the Trail Making Test, part B, in the bilateral DLPFC and PCC, the clock drawing test in the right orbital portion of the SFG, and CFT-delayed recall in the right PCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results, from the perspective of brain morphology, uniquely explored the specific cerebral structural changes of VaMCI, thus providing a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiabin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qihao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: guyuxiang1972@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Vascular mild cognitive impairment; brain volume; magnetic resonance imaging; neuropsychology