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Cortical atrophy patterns of incident MCI subtypes in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging
Mary M Machulda1, Emily S Lundt2, Sabrina M Albertson2
1Division of Neurocognitive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Introduction:
We examined differences in cortical thickness in empirically derived mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.
Methods:
We compared cortical thickness of four incident MCI subtypes (n = 192) to 1257 cognitive unimpaired individuals.
Results:
The subtle cognitive impairment cluster had atrophy in the entorhinal and parahippocampal cortex. The amnestic, dysnomic, and dysexecutive clusters also demonstrated entorhinal cortex atrophy as well as thinning in temporal, parietal, and frontal isocortex in somewhat different patterns.
Discussion:
We found patterns of atrophy in each of the incident MCI clusters that corresponded to their patterns of cognitive impairment. The identification of MCI subtypes based on cognitive and structural features may allow for more efficient trial and study designs. Given individuals in the subtle cognitive impairment cluster have less structural changes and cognitive decline and may represent the earliest group, this could be a unique group to target with early interventions.
Insights
Researchers found distinct patterns of brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes. These findings link specific cognitive deficits to brain changes, aiding early intervention strategies for cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
- Identifying distinct MCI subtypes is crucial for understanding disease heterogeneity and progression.
- Previous research has explored structural brain changes in MCI, but subtype-specific analyses are less common.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in cortical thickness across empirically derived mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes.
- To correlate patterns of brain atrophy with specific cognitive impairment profiles in MCI subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Cortical thickness was compared between four incident MCI subtypes (n=192) and cognitively unimpaired individuals (n=1257) from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.
- Neuroimaging data (cortical thickness) was analyzed in relation to cognitive assessments.
Main Results:
- The subtle cognitive impairment cluster exhibited atrophy in the entorhinal and parahippocampal cortex.
- Amnestic, dysnomic, and dysexecutive MCI subtypes showed entorhinal cortex atrophy and thinning in temporal, parietal, and frontal isocortex, with varying patterns.
- Distinct patterns of brain atrophy were identified for each MCI subtype, aligning with their respective cognitive deficits.
Conclusions:
- Subtype-specific patterns of cortical atrophy correspond to distinct cognitive profiles in mild cognitive impairment.
- Identifying MCI subtypes using cognitive and structural features can optimize clinical trial and study designs.
- The subtle cognitive impairment cluster, with less structural change, may be a key target for early therapeutic interventions.
