Imaging markers of mild cognitive impairment: Multivariate analysis of CBF SPECT

• Published in: Neurobiology of aging Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 1062 - 1069
• Main Authors: Huang, Chaorui, Eidelberg, David, Habeck, Christian, Moeller, James, Svensson, Leif, Tarabula, Tyler, Julin, Per
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer's disease (AD); Brain Mapping; Case-Control Studies; Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology; Cognition Disorders - diagnostic imaging; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Cognitive function; Female; Functional Laterality; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Internal Medicine; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Status Schedule; Middle Aged; Mild cognitive impairment (MCI); Multivariate Analysis; Neurology; Neuronal network; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Ordinal trends analysis (OrT); ROC Curve; Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Ordinal trends analysis (OrT); Neuronal network; Alzheimer's disease (AD); Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); Cognitive function; Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
• ISSN: 0197-4580; 1558-1497; 1558-1497
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.05.017

This study aimed to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in preclinical dementia using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). SPECT and cognitive function were investigated in 39 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects and 20 age-matched controls. All subjects were followed longitudinally 19 months on average, 16 MCI subjects progressed to Alzheimer's disease (AD), who were retrospectively defined as progressive mild cognitive impairment (PMCI) at baseline and 23 MCI subjects remained stable and were defined as stable mild cognitive impairment (SMCI) at baseline. SPECT was performed both at the initial investigation and at follow-up. Image data were analyzed using multivariate analysis, SPM and volume of interest (VOI)-based analysis. Significant covariate patterns were derived, which differentiate among PMCI, SMCI and controls at baseline as well as describe the longitudinal progression of PMCI. The combined SPECT and neuropsychology increased the diagnostic accuracy of PMCI at baseline. SPECT and neuropsychological testing can be used objectively for both baseline diagnosis and to monitor changes in brain function during very early AD.