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Mapping brain morphological and functional conversion patterns in amnestic MCI: a voxel-based MRI and FDG-PET study

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To reveal the morphological and functional substrates of memory impairment and conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD) from the stage of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

Methods

Brain MRI and FDG-PET were performed in 20 patients with aMCI and 12 controls at baseline. During a mean follow-up of about 2 years, 9 patients developed AD (converters), and 11 did not (nonconverters). All images were processed with SPM2. FDG-PET and segmented grey matter (GM) images were compared in: (1) converters versus controls, (2) nonconverters versus controls, and (3) converters versus nonconverters.

Results

As compared to controls, converters showed lower GM density in the left parahippocampal gyrus and both thalami, and hypometabolism in the precuneus, posterior cingulate and superior parietal lobule in the left hemisphere. Hypometabolism was found in nonconverters as compared to controls in the left precuneus and posterior cingulated gyrus. As compared to nonconverters, converters showed significant hypometabolism in the left middle and superior temporal gyri.

Conclusion

The discordant topography between atrophy and hypometabolism reported in AD is already present at the aMCI stage. Posterior cingulate–precuneus hypometabolism seemed to be an early sign of memory deficit, whereas hypometabolism in the left temporal cortex marked the conversion to AD.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mr. Michele Chiabrera for assistance with the English editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Silvia Morbelli

  2. Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Radiology, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy

    Arnoldo Piccardo & Giampiero Villavecchia

  3. Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

    Barbara Dessi, Andrea Brugnolo, Guido Rodriguez & Flavio Nobili

  4. Cell Biology Unit, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy

    Alessandra Piccini

  5. LENITEM - Laboratory of Epidemiology Neuroimaging & Telemedicine, IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy

    Anna Caroli & Giovanni Frisoni

  6. Medical Imaging Unit, Biomedical Engineering Department, Mario Negri Institute, Bergamo, Italy

    Anna Caroli

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  1. Silvia Morbelli
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  2. Arnoldo Piccardo
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  3. Giampiero Villavecchia
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  4. Barbara Dessi
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Correspondence to Silvia Morbelli.

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Morbelli, S., Piccardo, A., Villavecchia, G. et al. Mapping brain morphological and functional conversion patterns in amnestic MCI: a voxel-based MRI and FDG-PET study. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 37, 36–45 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1218-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1218-6

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