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Basal Forebrain Atrophy Is Associated With Allocentric Navigation Deficits in Subjective Cognitive Decline
Qian Chen1, Sichu Wu2, Xin Li1
1Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|March 4, 2021
Summary
Spatial navigation deficits and basal forebrain atrophy are early signs of incipient Alzheimer's disease in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. These findings may aid in early preclinical diagnosis and intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) increases Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk.
- Spatial navigation (SN) deficits are known in MCI and AD dementia but understudied in SCD.
- The role of basal forebrain (BF) and entorhinal cortex (EC) atrophy in SCD-related spatial disorientation is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if BF and EC atrophy contribute to spatial disorientation in SCD.
- To compare SN performance and brain volumes between SCD subjects and controls.
- To explore correlations between brain atrophy and navigation errors in SCD.
Main Methods:
- 31 SCD subjects and 24 controls underwent cognitive tests, a 2D computerized SN test, and structural MRI.
- Navigation distance errors, BF, EC, and hippocampal volumes were computed.
- Correlations between MRI volumetry and navigation errors were analyzed.
Main Results:
- SCD subjects exhibited worse egocentric and allocentric navigation than controls.
- The SCD group showed reduced whole BF and Ch4p subfield volumes.
- Allocentric navigation errors correlated negatively with BF and EC volumes in SCD patients.
Conclusions:
- SN deficits and BF atrophy are potential early indicators for incipient AD.
- Reduced BF volume, particularly Ch4p, may underlie allocentric disorientation in SCD, independent of hippocampal atrophy.
- Findings support the use of SN and BF atrophy for preclinical AD diagnosis and intervention.
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