Nonlinear time course of brain volume loss in cognitively normal and impaired elders.

Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Schuff N, Tosun D, Insel P, Chiang G, Truran D, Aisen P, Jack C, Weiner M
Journal Neurobiol Aging
Volume 33
Issue 5
Pagination 845-55
Date Published 09/19/2010
ISSN 1558-1497
Keywords Aging, Brain, Cognitive Dysfunction
Abstract The goal was to elucidate the time course of regional brain atrophy rates relative to age in cognitively normal (CN) aging, mild cognitively impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), without a priori models for atrophy progression. Regional brain volumes from 147 cognitively normal subjects, 164 stable MCI, 93 MCI-to-AD converters and 111 ad patients, between 51 and 91 years old and who had repeated 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans over 30 months, were analyzed. Relations between regional brain volume change and age were determined using generalized additive models, an established nonparametric concept for approximating nonlinear relations. Brain atrophy rates varied nonlinearly with age, predominantly in regions of the temporal lobe. Moreover, the atrophy rates of some regions leveled off with increasing age in control and stable MCI subjects whereas those rates progressed further in MCI-to-AD converters and AD patients. The approach has potential uses for early detection of AD and differentiation between stable and progressing MCI.
DOI 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.07.012
PubMed ID 20855131
PubMed Central ID PMC3032014
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