MRI-based comparative study of different mild cognitive impairment subtypes: protocol for an observational case–control study

Abstract

IntroductionAmnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) comprise the 2 main types of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The first condition generally progresses to Alzheimer's disease, whereas the second is likely to develop into vascular dementia (VD). The brain structure and function of patients with MCI differ from those of normal elderly individuals. However, whether brain structures or functions differ between these 2 MCI subtypes has not been studied. This study is designed to analyse neuroimages of brain in patients with VaMCI and aMCI using multimodality MRI (structural MRI (sMRI), functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)).Methods and analysisIn this study, 80 participants diagnosed with aMCI, 80 participants diagnosed with VaMCI, and 80 age-matched, gender-matched and education-matched normal controls (NCs) will be recruited to the Hongqi Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Heilongjiang, China. All participants will undergo neuroimaging and neuropsychological evaluations. The primary outcome measures will be (1) microstructural alterations revealed by multimodal MRIs, including sMRI, resting-state functional MRI and DTI; and (2) a neuropsychological evaluation, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Memory and Executive Screening (MES), trail making test, Stroop colour naming condition and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, to evaluate global cognition, memory function, attention, visuospatial skills, processing speed, executive function and emotion, respectively.Trial registration numberNCT02706210; Pre-results.

Structural and functional activities of brain in patients with vascular cognitive impairment: A case-controlled magnetic resonance imaging study

“…[ 1 , 2 ] A large number of clinical follow-up studies have found that the prevalence of VCI is as high as 46% in people over 60 years of age, with a clear trend towards VAD with prolongation of the disease course. [ 3 ] Currently, there are no drugs that can effectively treat dementia. Therefore, early identification and timely management of VCI is the main research direction, which is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of dementia.…”

Cognitive performance in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease with white matter hyperintensities: An exploratory analysis

“…Vascular cognitive impairment is a term used for the range of changes and impairments within a cognitive continuum associated with vascular pathologies, 10 , 14 - 17 but that do not yet meet criteria for dementia. In contrast, Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment (VaMCI) is a concept involving Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) that includes a clinical history of cerebrovascular disease, or diffuse WMH; 18 - 20 as well as impairment in at least one cognitive domain, but without underlying functional impairment. 10 , 18 , 21 Both VaMCI and MCI may have multiple cognitive components covered by the pathology, yet result in the same memory difficulties.…”

“… 10 , 18 , 21 Both VaMCI and MCI may have multiple cognitive components covered by the pathology, yet result in the same memory difficulties. 20 However, dementia and MCI due to AD present initial significant episodic memory impairment which progresses to impairments in other cognitive components. 22 The first impairments in VaMCI are related to executive functioning, semantic memory, visuospatial skills, attention and perception.…”

Textural features of the frontal white matter could be used to discriminate amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients from the normal population

“…These findings have inspired clinical interest in using specific imaging markers to predict dementia development in patients at risk. MCI is a neurodegenerative disease caused by endogenous neuronal factors, including τ and amyloid pathology (Yu et al., 2017 ). As the key enzymatic player in the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein, β‐secretase activity increases have been observed in the temporal lobes and the frontal lobes of AD patients (Fukumoto et al., 2002 ).…”