title: The effect of hippocampal function, volume and connectivity on posterior cingulate cortex functioning during episodic memory fMRI in mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diminished function of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is a typical finding in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is hypothesized that in early stage AD, PCC functioning relates to or reflects hippocampal dysfunction or atrophy. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hippocampus function, volume and structural connectivity, and PCC activation during an episodic memory task-related fMRI study in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  MCI patients (n = 27) underwent episodic memory task-related fMRI, 3D-T1w MRI, 2D T2-FLAIR MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. Stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between PCC activation and hippocampal activation, hippocampal volume and diffusion measures within the cingulum along the hippocampus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant relationship between PCC and hippocampus activation during successful episodic memory encoding and correct recognition in MCI patients. We found no relationship between the PCC and structural hippocampal predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate a relationship between PCC and hippocampus activation during episodic memory engagement in MCI. This may suggest that during episodic memory, functional network deterioration is the most important predictor of PCC functioning in MCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • PCC functioning during episodic memory relates to hippocampal functioning in MCI. • PCC functioning during episodic memory does not relate to hippocampal structure in MCI. • Functional network changes are an important predictor of PCC functioning in MCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's-Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.papma@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Janne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Papma
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francesco U
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Mattace Raso
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Lugt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henri A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Vrooman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wiro J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Niessen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's-Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koudstaal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's-Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Swieten
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frederik M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: van der Veen
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Niels D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Prins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Episodic memory task-related functional MRI; Hippocampus; Mild cognitive impairment; Posterior cingulate cortex