中文版MoCA和MMSE在诊断遗忘型轻度认知功能障碍中的应用

目的 研究中文版蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)在遗忘型轻度认知障碍(aMCI)诊断筛查中的作用. 方法 以2009-05-2010-03在卫生部北京医院神经内科门诊就诊的患者为检查对象,筛选出aMCI患者31例及健康对照者30名,分别进行简易精神状态量表(MMSE)、MoCA等量表检测,计算两量表诊断aMCI的敏感性和特异性并进行比较,分析MoCA在诊断aMCI中的作用和特点. 结果 以26分作为分界值时,MMSE和MoCA诊断aMCI的敏感性分别为9.68%和87.10%,特异性分别为93.33%和73.33%.MoCA的敏感性显著高于MMSE. 结论与MMSE 相比,MoCA以其较高的敏感性在筛查aMCI中具有较大作用,而且可对多个认知领域的功能进行检测,有望在多个认知损害类型的研究中起到重要作用.     

CERAD test performances in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) test performances cross-sectionally in patients suffering from amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, we wanted to determine the sensitivity to amnestic MCI and mild AD, as well as the specificity of different CERAD subtests in our study groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy elderly individuals, 15 amnestic MCI patients and 15 probable AD patients suffering from mild dementia were tested with the CERAD neurocognitive dementia screening test. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in all CERAD tests except Constructional praxis (copy) and Clock drawing between the controls and the AD group. The MCI group was differentiated from the controls only in the Wordlist learning test. In the language tests the sensitivity to MCI and AD was quite low and the specificity very high. In the savings scores the sensitivity to AD was high, but the specificity rather low. The Wordlist recognition test screened no false positives using the current cut-off score and the sensitivity to AD was 0.6, but only one MCI patient was detected using the current cut-off score. Raising the cut-off score also raised the sensitivity to MCI without dramatic loss of specificity. Cut-off scores for the Wordlist learning test and Wordlist delayed recall, which have been found to differentiate normal aging from dementia, are lacking in the Finnish CERAD. The current data indicates that the Wordlist learning test might be relatively sensitive to MCI. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the Finnish CERAD test battery with its current cut-off scores has low sensitivity to MCI, and using it as a sole cognitive screening instrument for MCI and preclinical dementia might result in false negatives.     

Correlates of recognition memory performance in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Introduction: Determining whether the etiology of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is challenging. Recognition memory (RM) performance could be helpful in identifying individuals with cognitive patterns indicative of underlying AD. In order to better identify such patterns, we examined RM discriminability in aMCI and its associations with nonmemory cognitive domains impaired in AD.

Methods: Participants were 97 individuals diagnosed with aMCI (M_age = 74.48 years) who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Zero-order correlations and hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between discriminability on the HVLT-R and specific tasks within the domains of executive function (EF) and language, controlling for age and education. Logistic regression was conducted to determine whether performance on individual tasks was predictive of group membership defined as impaired or unimpaired on RM performance.

Results: While 100% of the aMCI group showed impaired delayed recall on a word list, we found that 69% were impaired on RM discriminability, while 31% were not. Discriminability impairment groups did not differ on demographics or global cognition. For the entire aMCI group, performance in the language domain and, specifically, on a confrontation naming task significantly predicted RM discriminability. Confrontation naming was predictive of RM impairment group membership.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate individuals with aMCI are heterogeneous and show variability in RM discriminability. RM performance was associated with measures of language, elucidating patterns of cognition potentially marking those more likely to progress to AD. Future studies need to address this finding in a longitudinal sample.     

Deficits of visuospatial working memory and executive function in single- versus multiple-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A combined ERP and sLORETA study

ObjectiveAccording to recent criteria of classification, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) could be divided into two categories: single-domain aMCI (sd-aMCI) and multiple-domain aMCI (md-aMCI). The difference between sd-aMCI and md-aMCI needs further exploration. The present study aimed to compare deficits in visuospatial working memory (VSWM) and executive function between sd-aMCI versus md-aMCI patients by use of event-related potentials (ERP) and standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography analysis (sLORETA).MethodsThe ERP data were measured and analyzed in 26 sd-aMCI, 13 md-aMCI patients and 46 healthy elderly controls (HEC) during VSWM and Go/Nogo processes.ResultsDuring VSWM task, md-aMCI patients showed decreased P300 amplitude compared to HEC and sd-aMCI patients (All p < 0.05). As compared to sd-aMCI, md-aMCI showed a hypoactivation in the right middle frontal gyrus in 1-back task during the P300 time range. During the Go/Nogo task, sd-aMCI and md-aMCI patients showed reduced N200 amplitude, compared to HEC (All p < 0.05). However, md-aMCI patients had decreased N200 amplitude, with respect to sd-aMCI patients. Further, as compared to sd-aMCI patients, md-aMCI patients showed a hypoactivation in the right superior frontal gyrus during the N200 time range.ConclusionsThese findings with a combined ERP and sLORETA study showed more severe deficits in updating operations of WM, detections of the target stimulus and conflict processes in md-aMCI, compared to sd-aMCI patients.SignificanceThe present study showed that a combined ERP and sLORETA study during the VSWM and Go/Nogo tasks could distinguish md-aMCI from sd-aMCI.     

Differences in grey and white matter atrophy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease

Background:  Grey matter (GM) atrophy has been demonstrated in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the role of white matter (WM) atrophy has not been well characterized. Despite these findings, the validity of aMCI concept as prodromal AD has been questioned.
Methods:  We performed brain MRI with voxel-based morphometry analysis in 48 subjects, aiming to evaluate the patterns of GM and WM atrophy amongst mild AD, aMCI and age-matched normal controls.
Results:  Amnestic mild cognitive impairment GM atrophy was similarly distributed but less intense than that of mild AD group, mainly in thalami and parahippocampal gyri. There were no difference between aMCI and controls concerning WM atrophy. In the mild AD group, we found WM atrophy in periventricular areas, corpus callosum and WM adjacent to associative cortices.
Discussion:  We demonstrated that aMCI might be considered a valid concept to detect very early AD pathology, since we found a close proximity in the pattern of atrophy. Also, we showed the involvement of WM in mild AD, but not in aMCI, suggesting a combination of Wallerian degeneration and microvascular ischaemic disease as a plausible additional pathological mechanism for the discrimination between MCI and AD.     

Semantic knowledge in mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease

The aim of this study was to investigate memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ten patients with MCI, 11 with AD and a group of age and education matched healthy control participants were assessed on a comprehensive battery of semantic memory tests, including traditional semantic memory measures and a non-verbal test of knowledge of object use. The MCI group was impaired on tests of category fluency and all three conditions of an object knowledge test (matching to recipient, function and action), plus a difficult object-naming test. The mild AD group showed additional impairments on traditional measures of semantic memory, including naming high frequency items, comprehension and semantic association. Together these findings suggest that semantic memory impairments occur early in the course of AD, more specifically in patients with "amnesic" MCI, and provide further evidence that impaired category fluency reflects semantic breakdown.     

上海社区老年抑郁障碍与遗忘型轻度认知功能损害患者的认知功能对照研究

目的:探讨上海社区老年抑郁障碍与遗忘型轻度认知功能损害(aMCI)患者之间认知功能的神经心理学差异。方法:1 068例社区老人中符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册第4版临床定式检查(SCID)的老年抑郁障碍患者13例及亚临床抑郁患者7例,共20例作为抑郁障碍组(DD组),并选取性别、年龄、教育程度均匹配的aMCI患者20例(aMCI组)及正常老人20名(NC组)作为对照,采用简明精神状态量表(MMSE)、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)进行认知功能的测评。结果:3组在MMSE总分及地点定向力、计算与注意力、三步指令评分,以及MoCA总分、复制图、注意、计算、延迟回忆、时间定向评分差异有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.001)。DD组MMSE总分(P=0.034)、计算力与注意力(P=0.009)以及MoCA总分(P=0.002)、计算(P=0.006)、抽象思维(P=0.030)、时间定向(P=0.044)评分明显好于aMCI组。结论:社区老年抑郁障碍患者认知功能受损程度较老年aMCI患者轻。     

Effects of APOE ε2 allele on basal forebrain functional connectivity in mild cognitive impairment

BackgroundBasal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) dysfunction is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer''s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 is a protective genetic factor in AD and MCI, and cholinergic sprouting depends on APOE.ObjectiveWe investigated the effect of the APOE ε2 allele on BFCS functional connectivity (FC) in cognitively normal (CN) subjects and MCI patients.MethodWe included 60 MCI patients with APOE ε3/ε3, 18 MCI patients with APOE ε2/ε3, 73 CN subjects with APOE ε3/ε3, and 36 CN subjects with APOE ε2/ε3 genotypes who had resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Alzheimer''s disease Neuroimaging Initiative. We used BFCS subregions (Ch1‐3 and Ch4) as seeds and calculated the FC with other brain areas. Using a mixed‐effect analysis, we explored the interaction effects of APOE ε2 allele × cognitive status on BFCS‐FC. Furthermore, we examined the relationships between imaging metrics, cognitive abilities, and AD pathology markers, controlling for sex, age, and education as covariates.ResultsAn interaction effect on functional connectivity was found between the right Ch4 (RCh4) and left insula (p < 0.05, corrected), and between the RCh4 and left Rolandic operculum (p < 0.05, corrected). Among all subjects and APOE ε2 carriers, RCh4‐left Insula FC was associated with early tau deposition. Furthermore, no correlation was found between imaging metrics and amyloid burden. Among all subjects and APOE ε2 carriers, FC metrics were associated with cognitive performance.ConclusionThe APOE ε2 genotype may play a protective role during BFCS degeneration in MCI.     

MRI evidence of bilateral hippocampal sclerosis in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

We present the case of a man affected by amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) who showed bilateral hippocampal sclerosis at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We argue the concept that aMCI is heterogeneous syndrome and suggested the utility of coronal T2-weighted MRI images in the routine dementia workup.     

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: A brain perfusion SPECT study

The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with amnestic deficit (PD‐MCI). Perfusion single photon emission computed tomography was performed in 15 PD‐MCI patients and compared (statistical parametric mapping [SPM2]) with three groups, i.e., healthy subjects (CTR), cognitively intact PD patients (PD), and common amnestic MCI patients (aMCI). Age, depression, and UPDRS‐III scores were considered as confounding variables. PD‐MCI group (P < 0.05, false discovery rate–corrected for multiple comparisons) showed relative hypoperfusion in bilateral posterior parietal lobe and in right occipital lobe in comparison to CTR. As compared to aMCI, MCI‐PD demonstrated hypoperfusion in bilateral posterior parietal and occipital areas, mainly right cuneus and angular gyrus, and left precuneus and middle occipital gyrus. With a less conservative threshold (uncorrected P < 0.01), MCI‐PD showed hypoperfusion in a left parietal region, mainly including precuneus and inferior parietal lobule, and in a right temporal‐parietal‐occipital region, including middle occipital and superior temporal gyri, and cuneus‐precuneus, as compared to PD. aMCI versus PD‐MCI showed hypoperfusion in bilateral medial temporal lobe, anterior cingulate, and left orbitofrontal cortex. PD‐MCI patients with amnestic deficit showed cortical dysfunction in bilateral posterior parietal and occipital lobes, a pattern that can be especially recognized versus both controls and common aMCI patients, and to a lesser extent versus cognitively intact PD. The relevance of this pattern in predicting dementia should be evaluated in longitudinal studies. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society     

Gut microbiota interacts with intrinsic brain activity of patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

AimsTo explore the potential relationships among gut microbiota (GM), local brain spontaneous activity, and neuropsychological characteristics in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients.MethodsTwenty aMCI and 22 healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited. The GM composition was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed, and fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF) was calculated across different frequencies. The Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between spontaneous brain activity and cognitive function, and GM composition.ResultsaMCI patients had altered GM state and local spontaneous brain activity as compared with HC subjects. Correlation analysis showed that aMCI and HC groups had different “GM‐intrinsic brain activity interaction” patterns. In aMCI group, at the typical band (0.01‐0.08 Hz), the relative abundance (RA) of Bacteroides from phylum to genus level was negatively correlated with fALFF value of cerebellar vermis IV‐V, and the Ruminococcaceae RA was negatively correlated with fALFF values of left lenticular nucleus and pallidum. The Clostridiaceae RA and Blautia RA were positively correlated with the left cerebellum lobules IV‐V at the slow‐4 band (0.027‐0.073 Hz). The Veillonellaceae RA was positively correlated with fALFF values of left precentral gyrus at the slow‐5 band (0.073‐0.08 Hz). Correlation analysis showed that Clostridium members (Lachnospiraceae and Blautia) were positively, while Veillonellaceae was negatively, correlated with cognition test. Bacteroides was positively correlated with attention and computation, and negatively correlated with the three‐stage command score.ConclusionsaMCI patients have a specific GM‐intrinsic brain activity‐cognitive function interaction pattern.     

Progression to dementia in a population with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: clinical variables associated with conversion

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical predictors of, and rates of conversion to, dementia syndrome in a case series of patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Two hundred and eight aMCI subjects were followed over a six-year period. A lower Mini Mental State Examination score was a significant predictor of dementia, and mild cognitive impairment patients with behavioral and psychiatric symptoms showed a faster conversion rate.     

Topological alterations in older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy are distinct from amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Epilepsy incidence and prevalence peaks in older adults, yet systematic studies of brain aging and epilepsy remain limited. We investigated topological network disruption in older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; age > 55 years). Additionally, we examined the potential network disruption overlap between TLE and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), the prodromal stage of Alzheimer disease. Measures of network integration (“global path efficiency”) and segregation (“transitivity” and “modularity”) were calculated from cortical thickness covariance from 73 TLE subjects, 79 aMCI subjects, and 70 healthy controls. Compared to controls, TLE patients demonstrated abnormal measures of segregation (increased transitivity and decreased modularity) and integration (decreased global path efficiency). aMCI patients also displayed increased transitivity and decreased global path efficiency, but these differences were less pronounced than in TLE. At the local level, TLE patients demonstrated decreased local path efficiency focused in the bilateral temporal lobes, whereas aMCI patients had a more frontal-parietal distribution. These results suggest that network disruption at the global and local level is present in both disorders, but global disruption may be a particularly salient feature in older adults with TLE. These findings motivate further research into whether these network changes have distinct cognitive correlates or are progressive in older adults with epilepsy.