Correlation between hippocampal volumes and medial temporal lobe atrophy in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Introduction:Hippocampus undergoes atrophy in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Calculation of hippocampal volumes can be done by a variety of methods using T1-weighted images of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Medial temporal lobes atrophy (MTL) can be rated visually using T1-weighted MRI brain images. The present study was done to see if any correlation existed between hippocampal volumes and visual rating scores of the MTL using Scheltens Visual Rating Method.Materials and Methods:We screened 84 subjects presented to the Department of Neurology of a Tertiary Care Hospital and enrolled forty subjects meeting the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, AD related Disease Association criteria. Selected patients underwent MRI brain and T1-weighted images in a plane perpendicular to long axis of hippocampus were obtained. Hippocampal volumes were calculated manually using a standard protocol. The calculated hippocampal volumes were correlated with Scheltens Visual Rating Method for Rating MTL. A total of 32 cognitively normal age-matched subjects were selected to see the same correlation in the healthy subjects as well. Sensitivity and specificity of both methods was calculated and compared.Results:There was an insignificant correlation between the hippocampal volumes and MTL rating scores in cognitively normal elderly (n = 32; Pearson Correlation coefficient = 0.16, P > 0.05). In the AD Group, there was a moderately strong correlation between measured hippocampal volumes and MTL Rating (Pearson's correlation coefficient = −0.54; P < 0.05. There was a moderately strong correlation between hippocampal volume and Mini-Mental Status Examination in the AD group. Manual delineation was superior compared to the visual method (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Good correlation was present between manual hippocampal volume measurements and MTL scores. Sensitivity and specificity of manual measurement of hippocampus was higher compared to visual rating scores for MTL in patients with AD.

Hippocampal atrophy has limited usefulness as a diagnostic biomarker on the early onset Alzheimer's disease patients: A comparison between visual and quantitative assessment

“…In line with previous studies mostly performed in late-onset cognitive impairment, we observed a moderate correlation between MTA visual rating and volumetric techniques (Dhikav et al, 2017). The moderate correlation could be explained because MTA score is based mostly on a single slice while HV is a three-dimensional measure.…”

Level of LncRNA GAS5 and Hippocampal Volume are Associated with the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Previous studies have shown that pathological changes in the olfactory cortex of the hippocampus appear in the early stages of AD, and hippocampal atrophy is believed to be a sensitive marker for diagnosis of AD. 21 The baseline hippocampal volume of patients with AD was positively correlated with MMSE score in a previous study, 22 which was consistent with the results of the present study. Left hippocampal volume, right hippocampal volume, and total hippocampal volume were all decreased in patients with AD compared with those in healthy controls, and these decreases in volume correlated with decreased MMSE score.…”

Cardiovascular Comorbidities and Cognitive Impairment

“…Studies have indicated that cardiovascular factors (e.g. hypertension or/and diabetes, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accidents, arterial disease, etc) affect the development of cognition [1][2][3][4][5][6]. A recent study [7] with more than 400 participants confirmed that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors impacts mild cognitive impairment development, which is detectable in the primary care setting.…”

“…Cardiovascular diseases are known to contribute to cognitive decline [1][2][3][4][5][6], but it is unclear whether the reverse is also true. It is clear that hypertension or/and diabetes are common cardiovascular conditions leading to changes in brain structure and function.…”