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Hippocampal atrophy in subcortical vascular dementia
Laura van de Pol1, Hermann-Josef Gertz, Philip Scheltens
1Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Neuro-Degenerative Diseases
|May 27, 2011
Summary
Subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) patients show significant hippocampal (Hc) atrophy, intermediate between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls. This finding suggests overlap and has implications for SVaD clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Dementia Research
Background:
- New research criteria aim to define a homogeneous subgroup of subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD).
- Hippocampal (Hc) atrophy is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) but also occurs in vascular dementias.
- The extent of Hc atrophy in SVaD remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and extent of hippocampal atrophy in patients with subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD).
- To compare Hc atrophy in SVaD with healthy controls and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cohort of 11 SVaD patients, matched with healthy controls and AD patients.
- Assessed Hc atrophy using both Hc volumetry and visual rating of medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA).
Main Results:
- Significant Hc atrophy was observed in SVaD patients.
- The degree of Hc atrophy in SVaD was intermediate between controls and AD patients.
- At similar global cognition levels, SVaD patients showed 11.6% Hc volume reduction, and AD patients showed 16.6% reduction compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Patient groups with AD and SVaD show considerable overlap in Hc atrophy.
- Potential causes include AD contamination or other mechanisms specific to SVaD.
- Findings impact the design of future clinical trials for SVaD.
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