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Does hippocampal atrophy on MRI predict cognitive decline? A prospective follow‐up study
Author(s) -
Swann Alan,
O'Brien John,
Ames David,
Schweitzer Isaac,
Desmond Patricia,
Tress B.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199712)12:12<1182::aid-gps714>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - dementia , cognitive decline , cognition , atrophy , prospective cohort study , alzheimer's disease , psychology , cognitive test , degenerative disease , medicine , disease , audiology , psychiatry
Objectives . To investigate whether the presence of hippocampal atrophy (HCA) on MRI in Alzheimer's disease (AD) leads to a more rapid decline in cognitive function. To investigate whether cognitively unimpaired controls and depressed subjects with HCA are at higher risk than those without HCA of developing dementia. Design . A prospective follow‐up of subjects from a previously reported MRI study. Setting . Melbourne, Australia. Participants . Five controls with HCA and five age‐matched controls without HCA, seven depressed subjects with HCA and seven without HCA, and 12 subjects with clinically diagnosed probable AD with HCA and 12 without HCA were studied. They were followed up at approximately 2 years with repeat cognitive testing, blind to initial diagnosis and MRI result. Measures . HCA was rated by two radiologists blind to cognitive test score results. Cognitive assessment was by the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). Results . No significant differences in rate of cognitive decline, mortality or progression to dementia were found between subjects with or without HCA. Conclusions . HCA was not found to be a predictor of subsequent cognitive decline in this series. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.