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Novel MRI‐based geometric models for the quantification and prediction of morphometric changes in mild cognitive impairment converters
Author(s) -
Lu Hanna,
Chan Sandra Sau Man,
Zhang Li,
Lam Linda CW
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.047326
Subject(s) - ageing , atrophy , context (archaeology) , magnetic resonance imaging , cortex (anatomy) , dorsolateral prefrontal cortex , neuroscience , cognition , psychology , medicine , cognitive decline , prefrontal cortex , audiology , dementia , biology , radiology , paleontology , disease
Background The longitudinal global brain atrophy has been well documented. However, the ageing effect on region‐specific cortical features in the context of brain atrophy and to what extent the measures could discriminate the individuals with different cognitive status are less investigated. We sought to quantify the ageing effect on the morphometry of left primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in normal ageing adults and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) converters. Method Baseline, 1‐year and 3‐year follow‐up structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans from normal aging adults (n=32) and MCI converters (n=22) enrolled in the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS). The longitudinal changes of cortical features, including cortical volume, thickness, folding and scalp‐to‐cortex distance (SCD) were examined in both groups. Result Among the nonlinear trajectory of region‐specific morphometry, pronounced ageing effect was only found on the SCD of left DLPFC ( t = ‐2.54, p = 0.02) in MCI converters. the change of cortical folding of left M1 and the change of SCD of left DLPFC from baseline to 3‐year follow up could discriminate MCI converters from normal ageing adults. The SCD changes of left DLPFC were significantly correlated with the global cognitive decline. Conclusion Ageing has a prominent, but differential effect on trajectory of region‐specific cortical changes in MCI converters. Our findings suggest that surface‐based geometric measures, cortical thickness, gyrification index and SCD in particular, could be considered as valuable imaging markers and surrogate outcomes for the studies of neurodegenerative diseases.