Alterations in Gray Matter Structural Networks in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Source-Based Morphometry...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, marked by memory deficits and brain gray matter volume (GMV) changes.
• Prior research on aMCI primarily used univariate voxel-based morphometry for structural MRI analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural network differences in aMCI using source-based morphometry, a multivariate approach.
• To compare brain structure between aMCI patients and cognitively normal older adults.

Main Methods:

• Structural MRI and neuropsychological assessments were conducted on 91 aMCI patients and 80 controls.
• Source-based morphometry was employed to estimate spatially independent components (ICs) and analyze covariance.
• Multivariate analysis of covariance controlled for age, sex, education, and site.

Main Results:

• aMCI patients displayed reduced GMV in precentral, temporo-cerebellar, frontal, and temporal networks.
• Increased GMV was observed in the left superior parietal network in aMCI patients.
• Diagnosis moderated the relationship between the occipital network and Mini-Mental State Examination scores in aMCI.

Conclusions:

• GMV alterations in temporo-fronto-parieto-cerebellar networks are evident in aMCI.
• These findings expand upon previous univariate analyses of brain structure in aMCI.