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01-12-2007 | Diagnostic Neuroradiology

Precuneus atrophy in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: a morphometric structural MRI study

Authors: Giorgos Karas, Philip Scheltens, Serge Rombouts, Ronald van Schijndel, Martin Klein, Bethany Jones, Wiesje van der Flier, Hugo Vrenken, Frederik Barkhof

Published in: Neuroradiology | Issue 12/2007

Abstract

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) usually first presents in elderly patients, but may also develop at an earlier age. Patients with an early age at onset tend to present with complaints other than memory impairment, such as visuospatial problems or apraxia, which may reflect a different distribution of cortical involvement. In this study we set out to investigate whether age at onset in patients with AD determines the pattern of atrophy on cerebral MRI scans.

Methods

We examined 55 patients with AD over a wide age range and analyzed their 3-D T1-weighted structural MRI scans in standard space using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Regression analysis was performed to estimate loss of grey matter as a function of age, corrected for mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores and sex.

Results

The VBM analyses identified multiple areas (including the temporal and parietal lobes), showing more atrophy with advancing age. By contrast, a younger age at onset was found to be associated with lower grey matter density in the precuneus. Regionalized volumetric analysis of this region confirmed the existence of disproportionate atrophy in the precuneus in patients with early-onset AD. Application of a multivariate model with precuneus grey matter density as input, showed that precuneal and hippocampal atrophy are independent from each other. Additionally, we found that a smaller precuneus is associated with impaired visuospatial functioning.

Conclusion

Our findings support the notion that age at onset modulates the distribution of cortical involvement, and that disproportionate precuneus atrophy is more prominent in patients with a younger age of onset.

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Title: Precuneus atrophy in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: a morphometric structural MRI study
Authors: Giorgos Karas
Philip Scheltens
Serge Rombouts
Ronald van Schijndel
Martin Klein
Bethany Jones
Wiesje van der Flier
Hugo Vrenken
Frederik Barkhof
Publication date: 01-12-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Neuroradiology / Issue 12/2007
Print ISSN: 0028-3940
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1920
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-007-0269-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Precuneus atrophy in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: a morphometric structural MRI study

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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