Gray and White Matter Degenerations in Subjective Memory Impairment: Comparisons with Normal Controls and Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 30; no. 11; pp. 1652 - 1658
• Main Authors: Hong, Yun Jeong, Yoon, Bora, Shim, Yong S, Ahn, Kook Jin, Yang, Dong Won, Lee, Jae-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01.11.2015; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Aged; Brain - pathology; Cognitive Dysfunction - complications; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; Female; Gray Matter - pathology; Humans; Male; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - etiology; Neurodegenerative Diseases - complications; Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology; Original; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; White Matter - pathology; 의학일반; Voxel-based Morphometry; Subjective Memory Impairment; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Diffusion Tensor Imaging
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1652

Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is now increasingly recognized as a risk factor of progression to dementia. This study investigated gray and white matter changes in the brains of SMI patients compared with normal controls and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. We recruited 28 normal controls, 28 subjects with SMI, and 29 patients with MCI aged 60 or older. We analyzed gray and white matter changes using a voxel-based morphometry (VBM), hippocampal volumetry and regions of interest in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI parameters of corpus callosum and cingulum in SMI showed more white matter changes compared with those in normal controls, they were similar to those in MCI except in the hippocampus, which showed more degenerations in MCI. In VBM, SMI showed atrophy in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes compared with normal controls although it was not as extensive as that in MCI. Patients with SMI showed gray and white matter degenerations, the changes were distinct in white matter structures. SMI might be the first presenting symptom within the Alzheimer's disease continuum when combined with additional risk factors and neurodegenerative changes.