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Published on: January 28, 2014
Biomarkers
Gursimar Bhalla1, Ashwati Vipin2, Nagaendran Kandiah2,3
1Dementia Research Centre (Singapore), Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Background:
Mild behavioural impairment (MBI), characterized by the onset of irreversible neuropsychiatric symptoms is the prodromal stage to cognitive decline seen in older adults. MBI may also show comorbid presentation in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The relationship between hippocampal subfield volumes and MBI has yet to be established in the context of MCI. This preliminary study thus aimed to identify the bilateral hippocampal subfield volumes directly associated with MBI and to examine the interactive effects of a diagnosis of MCI on these associations.
Method:
313 cognitively-normal (CN) (56.0 ± 8.08 years old; 33.5% male) and 293 MCI (63.1 ± 8.66 years old; 42.3% male) individuals were recruited from the Biomarkers and Cognition Study, Singapore (BIOCIS). Participants underwent 3T T1-weighted MRI scans and data was processed using Freesurfer software ver 7.2. Participants were administered the Mild Behavioural Impairment Checklist (MBI-C). Impairment in each of the five subdomains (interest, impulse, mood, social and beliefs) was defined as the presence or absence of at least one symptom within each subdomain. Logistic regression modelling was applied to examine the main and interactive effects of diagnosis and subfield volumes. Age, sex, education years and total intracranial volume were controlled for.
Result:
Interest subdomain impairment was associated with lower right parasubiculum volume, with no significant interactive effects of diagnosis. Mood subdomain impairment was associated with lower left parasubiculum volume. The interactive effect of diagnosis however inversed this relationship. Mood subdomain impairment was also associated with lower left CA3 body volume and this effect remained consistent with the interactive effect of diagnosis. Social subdomain impairment was associated with lower left hippocampal tail volume. The interactive effect of diagnosis however inversed this relationship. Beliefs subdomain impairment was associated with higher right hippocampal fissure volume. The interactive effect of diagnosis inversed this relationship.
Conclusion:
Overall, atrophy in various hippocampal subfields is associated with the specific, individual MBIC subdomains, and these associations may differ across clinical diagnoses.
Insights
Mild behavioural impairment (MBI) is linked to specific hippocampal subfield volume reductions. These associations vary between cognitively normal individuals and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Radiology
Background:
- Mild behavioural impairment (MBI) signifies early neuropsychiatric symptoms preceding cognitive decline in older adults.
- MBI can co-occur with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), suggesting a complex relationship.
- The link between hippocampal subfield volumes and MBI, especially in MCI, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify hippocampal subfield volumes associated with MBI.
- To investigate how MCI diagnosis influences the relationship between MBI and hippocampal subfield volumes.
Main Methods:
- 3T T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired for 313 cognitively normal (CN) and 293 MCI participants.
- Freesurfer software processed MRI data; the Mild Behavioural Impairment Checklist (MBI-C) assessed MBI across five subdomains.
- Logistic regression analyzed MBI subdomains, hippocampal subfield volumes, and their interaction with MCI diagnosis, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Interest and mood subdomains were linked to reduced left/right parasubiculum and left CA3 body volumes.
- Social subdomain impairment correlated with reduced left hippocampal tail volume.
- Beliefs subdomain impairment was associated with increased right hippocampal fissure volume; diagnostic interactions modified these associations.
Conclusions:
- Specific hippocampal subfield atrophy correlates with distinct MBI subdomains.
- The relationship between MBI subdomains and hippocampal subfield volumes is modulated by clinical diagnosis (CN vs. MCI).
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