Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

Hippocampal atrophy on MRI in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer's disease

L A van de Pol1, A Hensel, W M van der Flier

  • 1VUMC, Department of Neurology, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. L.vandepol@vumc.nl

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|November 25, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Hippocampal atrophy, a sign of Alzheimer's disease, also appears in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Different FTLD subtypes exhibit distinct patterns of this brain change.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neurology
  • Dementia Research

Background:

  • Hippocampal atrophy on MRI is an early marker for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  • This atrophy can also be present in other neurodegenerative conditions like frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare hippocampal atrophy in FTLD subtypes and Alzheimer's disease using MRI volumetry and visual rating scales.
  • To investigate the specific patterns of hippocampal atrophy across different FTLD clinical presentations.

Main Methods:

  • Included 42 FTLD patients (3 subtypes), 103 Alzheimer's disease patients, and 73 controls.
  • Assessed hippocampal atrophy using MRI volumetry and the medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) visual rating scale.

Main Results:

  • Both FTLD and Alzheimer's disease showed significant hippocampal atrophy compared to controls.
  • Frontotemporal dementia and semantic dementia subtypes displayed bilateral hippocampal atrophy; semantic dementia showed a smaller left hippocampus than AD.
  • Progressive non-fluent aphasia did not exhibit significant hippocampal atrophy.

Conclusions:

  • Hippocampal atrophy is a characteristic of both Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
  • The three clinical subtypes of FTLD demonstrate varying patterns of hippocampal atrophy.

More Related Videos

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-145105:17

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-1451

Published on: April 18, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
Dementia l: Introduction01:22

Dementia l: Introduction

Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...