Relationship between neuropsychological test scores and hippocampal atrophy in non-demented Japanese older adults

Abstract

BackgroundIt is essential to detect morphological changes in the brain prior to the onset of cognitive decline. Although hippocampal volumes have been reported to be correlated with scores on neuropsychological tests, this relationship is still unclear among Japanese non-demented older adults. Thus, this exploratory retrospective study aimed to identify neuropsychological tests that correlate with the degree of hippocampal atrophy in Japanese non-demented older adults. MethodsThirteen non-demented Japanese older adults aged 71.2 ± 5.2 years were included. Hippocampal atrophy was evaluated by assessing the participants’ MRI scans using the voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer’s disease (VSRAD) software. Spearman’s partial correlation analyses were conducted to reveal relationships between VSRAD scores and neuropsychological test scores, including Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices test (RCPM), the Standard Verbal Paired Associate Learning test (SP-A), and the Trail Making Test (TMT) scores by controlling for age, sex, and years of education. ResultsThe Spearman’s partial correlation analysis results revealed that there were significant correlations between the degree of hippocampal atrophy and RCPM (rho = -0.691, p = 0.027), TMT part B (rho = 0.823, p = 0.003), and the related SP-A test scores (rho = -0.663, p = 0.027). ConclusionsOur results indicate that neuropsychological tests, particularly the TMT part B, might be used in assessing the degree of hippocampal atrophy in non-demented Japanese elderly individuals and should be studied further in the future to develop screening methods to detect brain atrophy.