Single domain amnestic MCI: A multiple cognitive domains fMRI investigation

• Published in: Neurobiology of aging 2011-09, Vol.32 (9), p.1542-1557
• Main Authors: Lenzi, D, Serra, L, Perri, R, Pantano, P, Lenzi, G.L, Paulesu, E, Caltagirone, C, Bozzali, M, Macaluso, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amnesia - diagnosis; Amnesia - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Mapping - methods; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation; Female; fMRI; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatrics; Humans; Internal Medicine; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Multiple cognitive investigation; Neurology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Severity of Illness Index; Single domain amnesic mild cognitive impairment; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0197-4580; 1558-1497
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.09.006

Abstract Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) is associated with the highest annual incidence of conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD) (10–15%). a-MCI patients may have only a memory deficit (single domain: sd-a-MCI) or additional dysfunctions affecting other cognitive domains (multiple domain: md-a-MCI). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated brain activation in 16 sd-a-MCI patients and 14 controls during four different tasks assessing language, memory, attention and empathy functions. We found greater activation in sd-a-MCI compared with controls in the left inferior temporal gyrus (language), the right superior temporal gyrus (memory) and the right dorsal precentral gyrus (attention). Moreover, patients’ activation correlated significantly with neuropsychological scores obtained at tests exploring the corresponding function. These findings indicate that fMRI is sensitive to detect early changes occurring in AD pathology and that individuals with sd-a-MCI show increased activation in multiple task-related brain regions. We suggest that these functional changes relate to the development of early compensatory mechanisms that reduce cognitive deficits associated with the progressive accumulation of brain damage.