Magnetic resonance morphometry of the brain volume, medial temporal lobes and hippocampus in middle-aged patients with premild cognitive decline

Abstract

Currently, instrumental brain imaging plays a significant role in the examination of patients with cognitive impairment. It is important for diagnostic process, prognosis of the course of neurodegenerative, cerebrovascular and other diseases, clarification of the role of individual brain structures and systems in the development of cognitive and other neuropsychiatric disorders.The purpose of the study was to analyze the volumes of the medial temporal lobes (MTL), hippocampus and brain volume in middle-aged patients with pre-mild cognitive decline.Material and methods. 38 patients (33 women, 5 men) of middle age (60.77 ± 9.4 years) were examined. Patients were divided into two groups: with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) – 15 patients, aged 53.5 ± 6.94 years and subtle cognitive decline (StCD) – 23 people aged 63.35 ± 8.64 years (groups statistically did not differ in age). All patients underwent a neuropsychological examination with an assessment of the cognitive sphere, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, including the assessment of the presence and degree of microangiopathy (MAP), morphometry of the medial temporal lobes, hippocampus, brain volume and a study for the presence of the allele of the apolyprotein E gene (ApoE4).Results. A decrease in the average and total hippocampal volume was found in patients with StCD compared to patients with SCD. Also, MAP was significantly more common in patients with StCD. There were no differences in the degree of MTL atrophy. A decrease in the volume of the left hippocampus was revealed in patients with aggravated heredity for dementia. The average and total volume of the hippocampus is reduced in carriers of the ApoE4 allele of the apolyprotein gene. Correlation analysis showed the relationship between the average volume of the hippocampus and the volume of the brain.