Resting-state abnormalities in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Current diagnosis relies on subjective tests, highlighting the need for objective biomarkers.
• Previous neuroimaging studies on aMCI have yielded inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in aMCI.
• To identify consistent neural markers for aMCI using activation likelihood estimation.
• To provide objective neuroimaging markers for early aMCI diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed for resting-state fMRI studies on aMCI until March 2015.
• Included 21 studies with a total of 156 distinct foci.
• Performed an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis on whole-brain data.

Main Results:

• Consistent resting-state activity differences were observed in aMCI patients compared to controls.
• Key regions with significant abnormalities include the posterior cingulate cortex, right angular gyrus, and right parahippocampal gyrus.
• Other affected areas include the left fusiform gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus, and bilateral middle temporal gyri.

Conclusions:

• Abnormalities in the resting-state activity of identified brain regions may serve as reliable neuroimaging markers for aMCI.
• These findings support the potential of resting-state fMRI for objective aMCI diagnosis.
• Early identification through neuroimaging can facilitate timely intervention for individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease.