title: Diffusion tensor imaging of the hippocampus in chronic cigarette smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have demonstrated neuronal dis-integrity in chronic smokers using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). However, assessment of hippocampal DTI has not been performed in this group. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hippocampal integrity in chronic smokers and non-smokers and to compare this to memory performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used in vivo DTI to measure the differences in hippocampal integrity between 88 chronic smoker and 88 non-smoking subjects. DTI was performed on a 3T scanner. We administered a verbal learning test to assess new verbal learning capabilities. The immediate recall (IR) was administered immediately after test procedure and delayed recall (DR) after 15min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of fractional anisotropy (FA) for non-smokers and smokers were 0.46 and 0.40, respectively (p<0.05). Mean IR word number for non-smokers and smokers was 11.6, 9.04, respectively (p<0.05). The mean word number of DR for non-smokers and smokers was 10.2, 7.2, respectively (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study of hippocampal DTI assessment in the chronic smokers. We found that decreased hippocampal FA associated with neuronal dis-integrity and worse memory performance in chronic smokers than non-smokers. We also found a low positive correlation hippocampal FA values with memory performance in nonsmoking group.
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: drihsany@gmail.com.
authors: Ihsan
authors: I
authors: Yuce
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Mecit
authors: M
authors: Kantarci
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Papatya
authors: P
authors: Keles
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Hakki
authors: H
authors: Yesilyurt
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Hayri
authors: H
authors: Ogul
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Hatice
authors: H
authors: Yuce
authors: Ataturk University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: Suat
authors: S
authors: Eren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Diffusion tensor; Fractional anisotropy; Hippocampus; Memory; Smoking