Voxel-based morphometry of brain in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Objective To compare the volumes of gray matter(GM) with optimized voxel-based morphometry(VBM) between individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI) and patients with mild Alzheimer's disease(AD). Methods Nine subjects with aMCI(aMCI group), 13 patients with mild AD(AD group),and 7 healthy elderly(control group) with normal-appear-ance of white matter were enrolled in this study. High-resolution 3D T_1 MR images were acquired. All 3D T_1 images were analyzed with SPM5 software by following the procedures of coregistration, modulation, segmentation, and smoothing. Results Compared with control group, there was significant GM volumetric reduction in bilateral superior temporal gyri,middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, cingulate gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, left middle temporal gyrus, post central gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, right insula and paracentral lobule in aMCI group (P0.01). In aMCI group, GM volumes of bilateral superior temporal gyri, dentate gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, insula, left precuneus lobe, postcentral gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, and parahippocampal gyrus were significantly larger than those in AD group (P0.01). Conclusion VBM analysis suggests significant regional atrophy in temporal, frontal and parietal regions in aMCI patients. The cerebral atrophy in aMCI is more severe and spread than normal elderly,and less severe and spread than mild AD.