Callosal atrophy and associated electromyographic responses in Alzheimer's disease and aging

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disorder characterised by cerebral atrophy with cortical and subcortical changes. Our objective is to investigate the patterns of atrophic changes in the corpus callosum in patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy elderly subjects and to clarify the relations of callosal impairment and the presence of associated electromyographic responses. We compare cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum by age, group and associated electromyographic responses, using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging from 47 subjects (twenty four healthy subjects and twenty three Alzheimer's disease patients). The control population was selected by criteria of optimal health; medical, neurological or psychiatric illnesses were excluded. We find that the first anterior and medial-anterior corpus callosum areas show an atrophy in Alzheimer group patients. These sectors show a clear relationship with the presence of associated movements.