Diagnostic Performance Using a Combination of MRI Findings for Evaluating Cognitive Decline

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cognitive decline is a growing concern, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools.
• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of cognitive impairment.
• Brain MRI is a key imaging modality for evaluating neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate imaging findings and their combinations for evaluating cognitive decline.
• To assess the diagnostic performance of specific MRI markers in differentiating AD from non-AD cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 138 patients with subjective cognitive impairments undergoing brain MRI.
• Classification of patients into AD and non-AD groups based on neuropsychiatric evaluation.
• Analysis of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) using Kruskal-Wallis and ROC curve analyses.

Main Results:

• Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) were more prevalent in the AD group, particularly in lobar and deep locations.
• The combination of lobar CMBs and periventricular WMH demonstrated the highest diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.702) in distinguishing AD from non-AD.

Conclusions:

• Specific combinations of imaging findings show promise in diagnosing cognitive decline.
• MRI markers, particularly CMBs and WMH, can serve as valuable additive tools in the assessment of Alzheimer's disease.