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High-resolution In Vivo Manual Segmentation Protocol for Human Hippocampal Subfields Using 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: November 10, 2015
Distinct Atrophy Pattern of Hippocampal Subfields in Patients with Progressive and Stable Mild Cognitive Impairment:
Qingze Zeng1, Kaicheng Li1, Xiao Luo1
1Department of Radiology, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China.
Background:
Predicting the prognosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has outstanding clinical value, and the hippocampal volume is a reliable imaging biomarker of AD diagnosis.
Objective:
We aimed to longitudinally assess hippocampal sub-regional difference (volume and asymmetry) among progressive MCI (pMCI), stable MCI (sMCI) patients, and normal elderly.
Methods:
We identified 29 pMCI, 52 sMCI, and 102 normal controls (NC) from the ADNI database. All participants underwent neuropsychological assessment and 3T MRI scans three times. The time interval between consecutive MRI sessions was about 1 year. Volumes of hippocampal subfield were measured by Freesurfer. Based on the analysis of variance, repeated measures analyses, and receiver operating characteristic curves, we compared cross-sectional and longitudinal alteration sub-regional volume and asymmetry index.
Results:
Compared to NC, both MCI groups showed significant atrophy in all subfields. At baseline, pMCI have a smaller volume than sMCI in the bilateral subiculum, molecular layer (ML), the molecular and granule cell layers of the dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis 4, and right tail. Furthermore, repeated measures analyses revealed that pMCI patients showed a faster volume loss than sMCI in bilateral subiculum and ML. After controlling for age, gender, and education, most results remained unchanged. However, none of the hippocampal sub-regional volumes performed better than the whole hippocampus in ROC analyses, and no asymmetric difference between pMCI and sMCI was found.
Conclusion:
The faster volume loss in subiculum and ML suggest a higher risk of disease progression in MCI patients. The hippocampal asymmetry may have smaller value in predicting the MCI prognosis.
Insights
Progressive mild cognitive impairment (MCI) shows faster hippocampal volume loss, particularly in the subiculum and molecular layer, indicating higher disease progression risk. Hippocampal asymmetry is less valuable for predicting MCI prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Predicting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prognosis is clinically significant.
- Hippocampal volume serves as a reliable imaging biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess hippocampal sub-regional differences in volume and asymmetry.
- To compare progressive MCI (pMCI), stable MCI (sMCI), and normal elderly controls (NC).
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the ADNI database, including 29 pMCI, 52 sMCI, and 102 NC.
- Performed longitudinal 3T MRI scans and neuropsychological assessments over approximately one year.
- Analyzed hippocampal subfield volumes using Freesurfer and statistical methods including repeated measures analyses and ROC curves.
Main Results:
- Both MCI groups exhibited significant atrophy across all hippocampal subfields compared to NC.
- pMCI patients showed smaller baseline volumes in specific subfields (e.g., subiculum, molecular layer) than sMCI.
- pMCI patients demonstrated faster longitudinal volume loss in the bilateral subiculum and molecular layer compared to sMCI.
Conclusions:
- Accelerated volume loss in the subiculum and molecular layer suggests increased risk of MCI progression.
- Hippocampal asymmetry appears to have limited value in predicting MCI prognosis.
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