Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Deformation-based Statistical Shape Analysis of the Corpus Callosum in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's
Zihan Jiang1, Huilin Yang2,3, Xiaoying Tang1
1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Objective:
In this study, we investigated the influence that the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) exerts upon the corpus callosum (CC) using a total of 325 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects, 155 AD subjects, and 185 healthy control (HC) subjects.
Method:
Regionally-specific morphological CC abnormalities, as induced by AD, were quantified using a large deformation diffeomorphic metric curve mapping based statistical shape analysis pipeline. We also quantified the association between the CC shape phenotype and two cognitive measures; the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Behavior Section (ADAS-cog). To identify AD-relevant areas, CC was sub-divided into three subregions; the genu, body, and splenium (gCC, bCC, and sCC).
Results:
We observed significant shape compressions in AD relative to that in HC, mainly concentrated on the superior part of CC, across all three sub-regions. The HC-vs-MCI shape abnormalities were also concentrated on the superior part, but mainly occurred on bCC and sCC. The significant MCI-vs-AD shape differences, however, were only detected in part of sCC. In the shape-cognition association, significant negative correlations to ADAS-cog were detected for shape deformations at regions belonging to gCC and sCC and significant positive correlations to MMSE at regions mainly belonging to sCC.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that the callosal shape deformation patterns, especially those of sCC, linked tightly to the cognitive decline in AD, and are potentially a powerful biomarker for monitoring the progression of AD.
Insights
Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology causes significant corpus callosum (CC) shape changes, particularly in the splenium (sCC). These CC shape alterations correlate with cognitive decline and may serve as a biomarker for AD progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropathology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
- The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest white matter tract, connecting brain hemispheres.
- CC integrity may be affected by AD pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the influence of AD pathology on the CC.
- Quantify CC shape abnormalities in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD subjects.
- Assess the association between CC shape and cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large deformation diffeomorphic metric curve mapping for statistical shape analysis of the CC.
- Analyzed data from 325 MCI, 155 AD, and 185 healthy control (HC) subjects.
- Subdivided the CC into genu (gCC), body (bCC), and splenium (sCC) for regional analysis.
Main Results:
- Observed significant superior CC shape compressions in AD compared to HC across all sub-regions.
- Found shape abnormalities in MCI, concentrated on the superior bCC and sCC.
- Detected significant shape differences between MCI and AD in parts of the sCC.
- Correlated CC shape deformations with cognitive measures (MMSE, ADAS-cog), noting significant associations in gCC and sCC.
Conclusions:
- Callosal shape deformation patterns, especially in the sCC, are tightly linked to cognitive decline in AD.
- CC shape abnormalities may serve as a powerful biomarker for monitoring AD progression.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
01:22Dementia l: Introduction