Concurrent Structural and Functional Patterns in Patients With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a precursor to Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Previous neuroimaging studies identified brain abnormalities in aMCI, but concurrent structural and functional changes remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate combined structural and functional brain alterations in aMCI patients.
• To identify shared neuroimaging markers for aMCI pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for gray matter volume, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFFs) and regional homogeneity (Reho) for functional activity.
• Employed resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis using identified structural and functional regions as seeds.

Main Results:

• Decreased gray matter volume, ALFF, and Reho were observed in specific frontal regions (SFG_R, MFG_R, IFG_L) in aMCI patients compared to healthy controls (HCs).
• Reduced RSFC was found between these frontal regions and other brain areas, including temporal and parietal lobes, in aMCI patients.

Conclusions:

• Shared structural and functional neuroimaging features highlight the critical role of SFG_R, MFG_R, and IFG_L in aMCI.
• Findings contribute to understanding the neural mechanisms underlying aMCI and its progression to AD.