Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
06:23

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease

Published on: October 13, 2016

Conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease predicted by hippocampal atrophy maps

Liana G Apostolova1, Rebecca A Dutton, Ivo D Dinov

  • 1Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. lapostolova@mednet.ucla.edu

Archives of Neurology
|May 10, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Smaller hippocampal volumes, particularly in the CA1 subfield and subiculum, are linked to Alzheimer's disease progression in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Larger volumes may indicate cognitive stability or improvement.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can progress to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but outcomes vary, including non-AD dementia, stability, or improvement.
  • Understanding predictors of MCI progression is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether hippocampal volumes and atrophy patterns predict MCI conversion to AD.
  • To differentiate between MCI patients who convert to AD, remain stable, or improve based on hippocampal structure.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal cohort study of 20 MCI subjects over 3 years.
  • Analysis of baseline regional hippocampal atrophy using region-of-interest and 3D mapping techniques.
  • Clinical and neuropsychological follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Patients converting to AD (MCI-c) had significantly smaller mean hippocampal volumes (9-13% smaller) compared to stable MCI (MCI-nc).
  • Greater atrophy in the CA1 subregion and subiculum was observed in MCI-c patients compared to those who improved (MCI-i).
  • MCI-c patients exhibited significantly smaller hippocampi (24-27% smaller) than MCI-i patients.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced hippocampal volume, especially in the CA1 subfield and subiculum, is associated with an increased risk of MCI conversion to AD.
  • Larger hippocampal volumes and preservation of CA1 and subiculum are linked to cognitive stability or improvement in MCI patients.

More Related Videos

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease09:38

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Published on: November 14, 2017

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...
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...
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...