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Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Detects White Matter Changes in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Yu-Ling Chang1,2, Yu-Shiuan Yen1, Ta-Fu Chen3

  • 1Department of Psychology, College of Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|December 8, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Informant assessments detect brain changes in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) before objective cognitive decline is evident. Combining these with neuropsychological tests best predicts white matter changes, aiding early dementia risk detection.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
  • Early detection of microstructural brain changes in MCI is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Understanding the progression of white matter integrity changes in MCI is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in gray matter and cingulum bundle integrity in MCI using different diagnostic criteria.
  • To compare the predictive value of neuropsychological tests versus informant-based assessments for white matter changes.
  • To identify reliable biomarkers for detecting high-risk individuals for dementia.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized neuroimaging techniques to assess regional gray matter and cingulum bundle integrity.
  • Included 50 participants with MCI (divided into CDR and CDR/NPT groups) and 22 healthy controls (HC).
  • Employed neuropsychological tests (NPTs) and informant-based Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) assessments.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in regional gray matter integrity were found across the three groups.
  • Reduced integrity in the right inferior cingulum bundle was observed in both MCI groups compared to HC.
  • The CDR/NPT MCI group showed additional disruption in the left inferior cingulum bundle; NPTs enhanced predictive value for white matter changes.

Conclusions:

  • Informant-based assessments effectively detect early microstructural brain changes in high-risk older adults.
  • Combining neuropsychological measures with informant assessments offers the highest predictive value for white matter disruption.
  • White matter integrity serves as a key biomarker for identifying individuals at high risk of dementia.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseasecognitiondiffusion magnetic resonance imagingearly diagnosismild cognitive impairmentneuropsychology

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