Comparison of neurodegenerative types using different brain MRI analysis metrics in older adults with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's dementia.

Myungwon Choi,Cheol E Han,Joon-Kyung Seong,Daegyeom Kim,Suji Lee,Hyunchul Youn,Sangil Suh,Hyun-Ghang Jeong,Stephen D Ginsberg

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0220739

Myungwon Choi, Cheol E Han + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220739

Copy DOI

Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Aug 1, 2019
Citations: 15	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Korea University, Korea University Medical Center

Abstract

Several metrics of analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to assess Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related neurodegeneration. We compared four structural brain MRI analysis metrics, cortical thickness, volume, surface area, and local gyrification index (LGI), in different stages of AD-related cognitive decline. Participants with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and AD were included (34 participants per group). All undertook the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) battery of neuropsychological tests and brain MRI scanning. We analyzed associations between morphometric measures and CERAD total/ Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores for the regions of interest (ROIs), identifying three types of curves: U-shaped, inverted U-shaped, and linear. Cortical thickness and volume analyses showed linear types in most of the significant ROIs. Significant ROIs for the cortical thickness analysis were located in the temporal and limbic lobes, whereas those for volume and surface area were distributed over more diffuse areas of the brain. LGI analysis showed few significant ROIs. CERAD total scores were more sensitive to early changes of cortical structures than MMSE scores. Cortical thickness analysis may be preferable in assessing brain structural MRI changes during AD-related cognitive decline, whereas LGI analysis may have limited capability to reflect the cognitive decrease. Our findings may provide a reference for future studies and help to establish optimal analytical approaches to brain structural MRI in neurodegenerative diseases.

Highlights

Several computerized methodologies for the analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis have been used to assess Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related neurodegeneration
We identified the differences between the use of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and CERAD total scores in analyzing correlations between changes of brain structural MRI and cognitive dysfunction
The morphometric measures—cortical thickness, volume, surface area, and local gyrification index (LGI)—are linked and interrelated to each other by mathematical equations, the types of descending graphs and significant regions of interest (ROIs) were different for the various measures considered in our study

Summary

Introduction

Several computerized methodologies for the analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis have been used to assess Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related neurodegeneration. Bakkour et al found that progressors to AD showed temporal and parietal thinning [4] Such cortical thinning reflects neurodegenerative processes such as cell loss associated with AD-related pathology [2]. Another interesting measurement from surface-based analysis is the quantified gyrification index. The human brain cortex consists of highly folded sulci and gyri These folds in the cortex can be widened due to cortical atrophy associated with AD-related neurodegeneration [5]. The brain’s cortical folding geometry can be quantified with the local gyrification index (LGI) [6], which can measure the sulcal widening induced by brain atrophy. Ruiz de Miras et al conducted LGI analysis in AD patients, and found that LGI was reduced in posterior-medial temporal lobe compared to healthy controls [2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion