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Cortical thinning in individuals with subjective memory impairment
Dix Meiberth1, Lukas Scheef2, Steffen Wolfsgruber3
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|December 5, 2014
Summary
Individuals reporting subjective memory impairment (SMI) show reduced cortical thickness in the entorhinal cortex, suggesting early Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain changes. This finding highlights potential preclinical AD indicators in those with memory concerns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Subjective memory impairment (SMI) involves self-reported memory decline without objective cognitive deficits.
- Longitudinal studies suggest SMI may be an early indicator or risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Neuroimaging studies increasingly show AD-related pathology in individuals with SMI at a group level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in cortical thickness between individuals with SMI and healthy controls (CO).
- To identify early AD-related brain changes in the medial temporal lobe using FreeSurfer analysis.
Main Methods:
- Structural 3D-T1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed on 110 participants (41 SMI, 69 CO).
- Cortical thickness was analyzed using the FreeSurfer environment.
- Comparisons focused on bilateral entorhinal cortex and bilateral parahippocampal cortex, regions implicated in AD.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant reduction in cortical thickness was observed in the left entorhinal cortex of the SMI group compared to the CO group (p = 0.003).
- No significant differences were found in the bilateral parahippocampal cortex within the analyzed regions.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide evidence of early AD-related neuropathological changes in individuals experiencing subjective memory impairment.
- Reduced entorhinal cortex thickness in SMI individuals may serve as a potential biomarker for preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
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