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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
Published on: November 20, 2015
Are transversal MR images sufficient to distinguish persons with mild cognitive impairment from healthy controls?
Christoph Mönninghoff1, Martha Dlugaj2, Oliver Kraff3
1Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Rationale And Objectives:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. This study aims to determine whether current standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is providing markers that can distinguish between subjects with amnestic MCI (aMCI), nonamnestic MCI (naMCI), and healthy controls (HCs).
Materials And Methods:
A subset of 126 MCI subjects and 126 age-, gender-, and education-appropriate HCs (mean age, 70.9 years) were recruited from 4157 participants in the longitudinal community-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study. The burden of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cerebral microbleeds, and brain atrophy was evaluated on transversal MR images from a single 1.5-T MR scanner by two blinded neuroradiologists. Logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic analysis were used for statistical analysis.
Results:
Occipital WMH burden was significantly increased in aMCI, but not in naMCI relative to HCs (P = .01). The combined MCI group showed brain atrophy relative to HCs (P = .01) pronounced at caudate nuclei (P = .01) and temporal horn level (P = .004) of aMCI patients and increased at the frontal and occipital horns of naMCI patients compared to either aMCI or HCs. Microbleeds were equally distributed in the MCI and control group, but more frequent in aMCI (22 of 84) compared to naMCI subjects (3 of 23).
Conclusions:
In his cohort, increased occipital WMHs and cortical and subcortical brain atrophies at temporal horn and caudate nuclei level distinguished aMCI from naMCI subjects and controls. Volumetric indices appear of interest and should be assessed under reproducible conditions to gain diagnostic accuracy.
Insights
Standard MRI markers like white matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy can help distinguish amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from nonamnestic MCI and healthy controls. These findings aid in early diagnosis and dementia risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increases dementia risk.
- Distinguishing MCI subtypes is crucial for prognosis and treatment.
- Standard MRI markers are being investigated for diagnostic utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if standard MRI can differentiate amnestic MCI (aMCI), nonamnestic MCI (naMCI), and healthy controls (HCs).
- To identify specific MRI markers associated with MCI subtypes.
Main Methods:
- 126 MCI patients and 126 HCs underwent 1.5-T MRI.
- White matter hyperintensities (WMHs), microbleeds, and brain atrophy were assessed by blinded neuroradiologists.
- Logistic regression and ROC analysis were employed.
Main Results:
- Increased occipital WMH burden was observed in aMCI versus HCs (P=.01).
- Brain atrophy was noted in MCI patients, particularly at the caudate nuclei and temporal horns in aMCI.
- Microbleeds were more frequent in aMCI than naMCI subjects.
Conclusions:
- Occipital WMHs and specific brain atrophies distinguish aMCI from naMCI and HCs.
- Volumetric MRI indices show diagnostic potential for MCI subtypes.
- Reproducible assessment of volumetric indices is recommended for improved diagnostic accuracy.
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