Are left angular gyrus and amygdala volumes important for financial capacity in mild cognitive impairment?

The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of specific brain areas for financial capacity in patients suffering from amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) over time.

Fifteen aMCI patients underwent assessment of cognitive and mood functioning, as well as quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (for three times a 3 Tesla MRI). We used a detailed neuropsychological examination and a new instrument measuring financial capacity, the Legal Capacity for Property Law Transactions Assessment Scale (LCPLTAS), during a 12-month period.

Spearman and Kendall correlations revealed a number of statistically significant positive relationships at synchronous testing between financial capacity and brain volumes, while repetitive testing revealed that the right amygdala volume correlated with measured financial capacity (r first-third time=.908, P=.000), and the left angular gyrus volume difference showed a similarly strong correlation. In contrast to that, a number of neuropsychological tests correlated with financial capacity, but only MMSE seems to have the strongest correlation (r=.899, P=.000).

Financial capacity in Greek aMCI patients strongly correlates with right amygdala and left angular gyrus volumes, a finding that supports that emotion as well arithmetic skills are involved in financial capacity, while the importance of MMSE as the only neuropsychological test with the strongest positive correlation is discussed.