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Patterns of cortical thickness in MCI patients with and without semantic impairment
Émilie Delage1, Isabelle Rouleau2, Marc-Antoine Akzam-Ouellette1
1Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montreal, QC, Canada; Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Background:
About half of MCI patients experience semantic deficits, which may predict progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The neural basis of these deficits in MCI is not well understood. This study aimed to examine the relationship between semantic memory performance and cortical thickness in MCI patients.
Methods:
Using FreeSurfer, T1-weighted MRI scans were analyzed from MCI patients with (MCIsem+) and without (MCIsem-) semantic deficits. Correlation analyses across all participants, including healthy controls, examined the link between semantic memory and cortical thickness, controlling for age and education. Group comparisons of cortical thickness were also conducted between MCIsem+ and MCIsem- groups.
Results:
Significant correlations emerged between semantic memory performance and cortical thickness in the left medial temporal lobe, right temporal pole, and bilateral frontal regions-areas involved in central semantic and executive processes. Additionally, MCIsem + patients showed reduced cortical thickness in frontal, parietal, and occipital areas compared to MCIsem- patients.
Conclusion:
Semantic memory performance in MCI patients is associated with structural differences in regions supporting both central and executive aspects of semantic processing. Given that MCIsem + patients may face higher risk of AD progression, longitudinal studies should investigate these cortical markers' predictive value.
Insights
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients with semantic deficits show altered cortical thickness in brain regions crucial for memory and executive functions. These findings may help predict Alzheimer's disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurology
Background:
- Semantic deficits affect approximately 50% of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- These deficits may indicate a higher risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- The underlying neural mechanisms of semantic deficits in MCI are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between semantic memory performance and cortical thickness in MCI patients.
- To identify specific brain regions associated with semantic deficits in MCI.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T1-weighted MRI scans from MCI patients (with and without semantic deficits) and healthy controls using FreeSurfer.
- Correlation analyses to link semantic memory performance with cortical thickness, controlling for age and education.
- Group comparisons of cortical thickness between MCI patients with and without semantic deficits.
Main Results:
- Semantic memory performance correlated with cortical thickness in the left medial temporal lobe, right temporal pole, and bilateral frontal regions.
- These regions are involved in central semantic and executive processing.
- MCI patients with semantic deficits exhibited reduced cortical thickness in frontal, parietal, and occipital areas compared to those without.
Conclusions:
- Semantic memory performance in MCI is linked to structural brain differences in regions vital for semantic and executive functions.
- MCI patients with semantic deficits may be at increased risk for AD progression.
- Further longitudinal studies are needed to assess the predictive value of these cortical markers for AD.
