Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Hippocampal volume and hippocampal angle (a more practical marker) in mild cognitive impairment: A case-control
Reza Basiratnia1, Ehsan Amini1, Mohammad Reza Sharbafchi2
1Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Background:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) accompanies brain atrophy in neuroimaging investigations. The aim of this study was to compare MCI patients with the normal population for hippocampal volume (HV) and hippocampal angle (HA), and to assess the correlation between HV and HA.
Materials And Methods:
In a case-control study on 2014, in Kashani Hospital (Isfahan, Iran), 20 MCI patients were compared with 20 normal controls for HV and HA. Subjects were diagnosed with MCI or normal control, based on neuropsychiatry interview, which was confirmed by neuropsychiatry unit cognitive assessment tool (NUCOG). All magnetic resonance imaging scans were processed using the Free-Surfer software package for HV assessment. The HA was measured on the most rostral slice in which the uncal sulcus could be identified on a coronal plane. The data were analyzed using multiple analysis of co-variance and Pearson correlation.
Results:
The mean (standard deviation [SD]) score of NUCOG in control and case group were 91.05 (3.01) and 82.42 (3.57), respectively. Comparison of HV and HA scores in two groups, showed that mean (SD) HV and HA were not different between control and case groups, significantly, (P = 0.094 and P = 0.394, respectively). There was a negative correlation between the adjusted HV and the HA in case (r = -0.642, P = 0.004), and control groups (r = -0.654, P = 0.003).
Conclusion:
HV and HA were not different between MCI patients and normal controls; however, HA is correlated with HV negatively and may be used as an alternative factor because of more feasibility and availability in clinical settings in compared to HV.
Insights
Hippocampal volume and angle did not differ between mild cognitive impairment patients and controls. However, the hippocampal angle showed a significant negative correlation with hippocampal volume, suggesting its potential as a feasible clinical marker.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with brain atrophy.
- Neuroimaging studies investigate structural brain changes in MCI.
- Hippocampal volume (HV) and angle (HA) are key metrics in assessing brain structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hippocampal volume (HV) and hippocampal angle (HA) between MCI patients and normal controls.
- To investigate the correlation between HV and HA in both groups.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 20 MCI patients and 20 normal controls.
- Diagnosis confirmed using neuropsychiatry interview and the NUCOG assessment tool.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans processed with Free-Surfer for HV; HA measured on coronal plane.
- Statistical analysis included ANCOVA and Pearson correlation.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in mean HV or HA were found between MCI patients and controls (P=0.094 and P=0.394, respectively).
- A significant negative correlation was observed between adjusted HV and HA in both MCI patients (r=-0.642, P=0.004) and controls (r=-0.654, P=0.003).
Conclusions:
- Hippocampal volume and angle do not significantly differ between MCI patients and healthy individuals.
- The hippocampal angle is negatively correlated with hippocampal volume.
- HA may serve as a more feasible and accessible clinical alternative to HV for assessing hippocampal structure.
More Related Videos
12:50Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
Published on: April 14, 2014
10:59Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
