Regionally specific atrophy of the corpus callosum in AD, MCI and cognitive complaints

The goal of the present study was to determine if there are global or regionally specific decreases in callosal area in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, this study examined the corpus callosum of healthy older adults who have subjective cognitive complaints (CC) but perform within normal limits on neuropsychological tests. We used a semi-automated procedure to examine the total and regional areas of the corpus callosum in 22 patients with early AD, 28 patients with amnestic MCI, 28 healthy older adults with cognitive complaints, and 50 demographically matched healthy controls (HC). The AD, MCI, and CC groups all showed a significant reduction of the posterior region (isthmus and splenium) relative to healthy controls. The AD group also had a significantly smaller overall callosum than the controls. The demonstration of callosal atrophy in older adults with cognitive complaints suggests that callosal changes occur very early in the dementing process, and that these earliest changes may be too subtle for detection by neuropsychological assessments, including memory tests.

[1]  M. Folstein,et al.  Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease , 1984, Neurology.

[2]  N C Andreasen,et al.  Automatic atlas-based volume estimation of human brain regions from MR images. , 1996, Journal of computer assisted tomography.

[3]  E. Ross,et al.  Topography of the Human Corpus Callosum , 1985, Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology.

[4]  L. Squire,et al.  Memory complaint after electroconvulsive therapy: assessment with a new self-rating instrument. , 1979, Biological psychiatry.

[5]  G. Alexander,et al.  Longitudinal PET Evaluation of Cerebral Metabolic Decline in Dementia: A Potential Outcome Measure in Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Studies. , 2002, The American journal of psychiatry.

[6]  R. Dean,et al.  TEST REVIEW: Dean C. Delis, Edith Kaplan & Joel H. Kramer, Delis Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio, TX, 2001. $415.00 (complete kit) , 2006 .

[7]  N C Andreasen,et al.  Voxel processing techniques for the antemortem study of neuroanatomy and neuropathology using magnetic resonance imaging. , 1993, The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences.

[8]  J. Price,et al.  Mild cognitive impairment represents early-stage Alzheimer disease. , 2001, Archives of neurology.

[9]  In Kyoon Lyoo,et al.  Regional atrophy of the corpus callosum in subjects with Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia , 1997, Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.

[10]  F Kruggel,et al.  Morphometry of the corpus callosum in patients with questionable and mild dementia , 2002, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[11]  Ruth A. Carper,et al.  Atrophy of the Corpus Callosum in Alzheimer's Disease Versus Healthy Aging , 1996, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[12]  Harald Hampel,et al.  Progression of corpus callosum atrophy in Alzheimer disease. , 2002, Archives of neurology.

[13]  Hidenao Fukuyama,et al.  Comparison of the pattern of atrophy of the corpus callosum in frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Alzheimer's disease , 2000, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[14]  S. Folstein,et al.  "Mini-mental state". A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. , 1975, Journal of psychiatric research.

[15]  N C Andreasen,et al.  Image processing for the study of brain structure and function: problems and programs. , 1992, The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences.

[16]  J. Morris,et al.  Current concepts in mild cognitive impairment. , 2001, Archives of neurology.

[17]  Robert K. Heaton,et al.  Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Manual – Revised and Expanded , 1993 .

[18]  A. Saykin,et al.  Longitudinal evaluation of neuropsychological function in homosexual men with HIV infection: 18-month follow-up. , 1991, The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences.

[19]  A. Siegal,et al.  Early diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease. , 1998, The Journal of clinical psychiatry.

[20]  J. J. Ryan,et al.  Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III , 2001 .

[21]  L. Schad,et al.  Topography of callosal atrophy reflects distribution of regional cerebral volume reduction in Alzheimer’s disease , 1999, Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.

[22]  V. Leirer,et al.  Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. , 1982, Journal of psychiatric research.

[23]  Takashi Inoue,et al.  Selective reduction of diffusion anisotropy in white matter of Alzheimer disease brains measured by 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging , 2002, Neuroscience Letters.

[24]  B Horwitz,et al.  Corpus callosum atrophy is a possible indicator of region- and cell type-specific neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer disease: a magnetic resonance imaging analysis. , 1998, Archives of neurology.

[25]  R H Huesman,et al.  Regional Cerebral Metabolic Alterations in Dementia of the Alzheimer Type: Positron Emission Tomography with [1818] Fluorodeoxyglucose , 1983, Journal of computer assisted tomography.

[26]  S. Rose,et al.  Loss of connectivity in Alzheimer's disease: an evaluation of white matter tract integrity with colour coded MR diffusion tensor imaging , 2000, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[27]  Dominique Hasboun,et al.  Relationship between attentional performance and corpus callosum morphometry in patients with Alzheimer’s disease , 2002, Neuropsychologia.

[28]  H. Braak,et al.  Neuropathological stageing of Alzheimer-related changes , 2004, Acta Neuropathologica.

[29]  David Wechsler,et al.  Wechsler Memory scale. , 2005 .

[30]  E. Tangalos,et al.  Mild Cognitive Impairment Clinical Characterization and Outcome , 1999 .

[31]  G. Alexander,et al.  Regional pattern of hippocampus and corpus callosum atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease in relation to dementia severity: evidence for early neocortical degeneration , 2003, Neurobiology of Aging.

[32]  M. Sliwinski,et al.  Development and validation of a model for estimating premorbid verbal intelligence in the elderly. , 1991, Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology.

[33]  Anthony F Jorm.  A short form of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE): development and cross-validation , 1994, Psychological Medicine.

[34]  H. Braak,et al.  Staging of alzheimer's disease-related neurofibrillary changes , 1995, Neurobiology of Aging.