Spain: A recent study has reported that baseline MRI findings can predict two-year cognitive outcomes in patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). This could improve how Alzheimer's disease is treated. The study was published in the Journal of Neurology on 19 October 2021.
According to the study, baseline hemispheric/regional CTh (cortical thickness), ventricular and amygdalar volume, but not the hippocampus, predict two-year cognitive outcomes in EOAD.
Cognitive status in AD is predicted by MRI atrophy. However, this relationship has not been investigated in patients with early-onset AD (EOAD, < 65 years) with a biomarker-based diagnosis. Considering this, Albert Lladó, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Spain, and colleagues explored whether there was any association between baseline MRI exam findings in early-onset Alzheimer's patients that indicate global atrophy and cognitive outcomes over a two-year period.
The study included forty-eight EOAD (MMSE ≥ 15; A + T + N +) and forty-two age-matched healthy controls (HC; A − T − N −) from a prospective cohort. They underwent full neuropsychological assessment, 3T-MRI scan, and lumbar puncture at baseline. The cognitive assessment was repeated annually. Linear mixed models were used to investigate whether baseline cortical thickness (CTh) or subcortical volume predicts two-year cognitive outcomes in the EOAD group.
Key findings include:
In EOAD, hemispheric CTh and ventricular volume at baseline were associated with global cognition, language and attentional/executive functioning 2 years later.
Regional CTh was related to most cognitive outcomes, except verbal/visual memory subtests.
Amygdalar volume was associated with the letter fluency test.
Hippocampal volume did not show significant associations.
The researchers concluded, "Baseline hemispheric/regional CTh, ventricular and amygdalar volume, but not the hippocampus, predict two-year cognitive outcomes in EOAD."
Reference:
Contador, J., Pérez-Millan, A., Guillen, N. et al. Baseline MRI atrophy predicts 2-year cognitive outcomes in early-onset Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10851-9