The role of morpho-volumetric and memory correlations in the diagnosis of early Alzheimer dementia |
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Authors: | Marco Mauri Luisella Sibilla Giorgio Bono Giovanni Augusto Carlesimo E Sinforiani Adelaide Martelli |
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Institution: | (1) I.R.C.C.S. Neurologico C. Mondino, Via Palestro 3, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Tel.: +39-382-3801 Fax: +39-382-380286, IT;(2) II Facoltà di Medicina, Varese, Italy, IT;(3) I.R.C.C.S. Lucia, Rome, Italy, IT |
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Abstract: | The aim of the present study was to assess selective atrophy of the temporal lobe and amygdala in the early stages of Alzheimer
dementia (AD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements and the presence of highsignal lesions (HSL) were analysed in
31 patients with mild to moderate probable AD and 22 controls. In the AD group, MRI findings were compared with cognitive
variables and specific features of memory functions. Alzheimer patients showed a significant reduction in volumetric measurement
compared with controls in the total volume (P < 0.01), temporal lobe (P < 0.01) and amygdala (P < 0.05). The temporal lobe/brain volume ratio was also significantly reduced in AD subjects (P < 0.05). Atrophy of temporal structures was significantly related to the degree of episodic and semantic memory impairment
according to a material-specific effect. No significant correlations between amygdala and cognitive variables were found.
The results of our study confirm the usefulness of measures of temporal lobe atrophy assessed with MRI in the diagnosis of
AD. In contrast, HSL are relatively common in AD patients (12/31 cases) and were not related to volumetric findings, severity
of dementia or functional disability.
Received: 11 June 1997 Received in revised form: 6 February 1998 Accepted: 10 February 1998 |
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Keywords: | Alzheimer dementia Magnetic resonance imaging Temporal lobe Amygdala High signal lesions |
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