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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures
12:30

A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures

Published on: July 2, 2014

Volume loss of the medial temporal lobe structures in subjective memory impairment

Nadine Striepens1, Lukas Scheef, Andrea Wind

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Germany. nadine.striepens@web.de

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
|January 30, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Subjective memory impairment (SMI) may signal early Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Brain scans show reduced hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala volumes in individuals with SMI, suggesting a preclinical AD stage.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neurology
  • Alzheimer's Disease Research

Background:

  • Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is a potential early indicator of Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
  • SMI may precede mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the AD progression.
  • Investigating neuroanatomical changes in SMI is crucial for early AD detection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide biological evidence for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in individuals experiencing Subjective Memory Impairment (SMI).
  • To determine if specific brain region volumes are reduced in SMI patients compared to controls.
  • To assess the potential of SMI as a preclinical marker for AD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
  • Manually traced regional volumetric measures of key brain structures.
  • Compared brain volumes between individuals with SMI and a healthy control group.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in total brain volume was observed between groups.
  • Individuals with SMI exhibited reduced bilateral hippocampus volumes.
  • Significant reductions were found in bilateral entorhinal cortex and right amygdala volumes in the SMI group.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced volumes in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala support SMI as an early manifestation of AD.
  • SMI may reflect an early neurodegenerative process that is still functionally compensated.
  • These findings highlight the potential of volumetric MRI for identifying preclinical AD.

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