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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
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High-resolution In Vivo Manual Segmentation Protocol for Human Hippocampal Subfields Using 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: November 10, 2015
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Hippocampal subfield surface deformity in non-semantic primary progressive aphasia
Adam Christensen1, Kathryn Alpert1, Emily Rogalski2
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Clinical Psychology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|April 21, 2015
Summary
Hippocampal shape changes in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) correlate with memory performance, even without overt memory loss. These findings suggest underlying neurodegenerative processes affecting the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology is present in nearly half of non-semantic primary progressive aphasia (PPA) cases.
- Investigating hippocampal abnormalities in PPA is crucial for understanding its relationship with amnestic AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine hippocampal subfield surface shape and volume in PPA patients.
- To compare hippocampal abnormalities in PPA with those in amnestic AD.
- To assess the relationship between hippocampal shape, memory performance, and ApoE genotype in PPA.
Main Methods:
- Structural MRI was used to generate hippocampal subfield surface maps in 37 PPA patients and 32 healthy controls.
- A face memory test was administered to assess cognitive function.
- Group and hemispheric differences in surface shape were analyzed, alongside correlations with test scores and ApoE genotype.
Main Results:
- PPA patients exhibited inward deformity in CA1 and subiculum subfields and outward deformity in the CA2-4+DG subfield.
- The left hippocampus was smaller in volume than the right hippocampus in PPA patients.
- Memory performance correlated with hippocampal shape abnormalities in PPA, but not in controls, irrespective of baseline memory impairment.
Conclusions:
- Hippocampal deformity in PPA is linked to memory test performance.
- These findings may indicate a combination of intrinsic neurodegeneration and secondary effects from neocortical neuronal loss.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD)frontotemporal dementialobar degenerationmemorymulti-atlas mappingneuroanatomyprimary progressive aphasia (PPA)structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)More Related Videos
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