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Mild cognitive impairment: apparent diffusion coefficient in regional gray matter and white matter structures

Kimberly M Ray1, Huali Wang, Yong Chu

  • 1Department of Radiological Sciences, Tu and Yuen Center for Functional Onco-Imaging, University of California, Irvine, 164 Irvine Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-5020, USA.

Radiology
|September 23, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study found higher apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in the hippocampus and temporal lobe gray matter of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Elevated hippocampal ADC correlated with poorer memory recall in MCI patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Radiology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by cognitive deficits.
  • Identifying early biomarkers for MCI is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Diffusion MRI offers insights into brain tissue microstructure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate regional alterations in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in gray and white matter.
  • To investigate brain regions implicated in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  • To assess ADC changes in cortical and subcortical structures in MCI.

Main Methods:

  • 13 patients with MCI and 13 healthy controls underwent MRI.
  • Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured in specific brain regions (hippocampus, corpus callosum, etc.).
  • Automated template masking and skeleton-based segmentation were employed for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Patients with MCI showed higher ADCs in the hippocampus, temporal lobe gray matter, and corpus callosum compared to controls.
  • Higher hippocampal ADC values significantly correlated with worse performance on memory recall tasks.
  • The findings suggest microstructural changes in specific brain regions in MCI.

Conclusions:

  • Automated template masking and skeleton-based segmentation effectively analyze regional ADC values.
  • Diffusion MRI can detect microstructural alterations in gray and white matter in MCI.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiology of MCI.

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