Gray matter in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: voxel-based morphometry

Multiple regression voxel-based morphometry analyses were used to examine the relationship between regional gray matter volumes and neurocognitive performance in 10 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 20 healthy age-matched controls. Cognitive functioning was assessed with seven standardized neuropsychological tests. Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment exhibited impaired cognitive performance (on the Mini Mental State Examination, tests of verbal fluency, verbal and spatial learning and memory, and visual-motor abilities) and reduced gray matter volume in the right temporal pole. Across all participants, better performance on several neuropsychological tests was associated with higher regional gray matter volumes. Voxel-based morphometry provides an operator-unbiased means to investigate volumetric differences, which may be related to impaired neuropsychological functioning.