Specific hippocampal atrophy early sign of MCI & Alzheimer's

January, 2010

People with MCI who later developed Alzheimer's disease showed 10-30% greater brain atrophy in two specific regions.

A three-year study involving 169 people with mild cognitive impairment has found that those who later developed Alzheimer's disease showed 10-30% greater atrophy in two specific locations within the hippocampus, the cornu ammonis (CA1) and the subiculum. A second study comparing the brains of 10 cognitively normal elderly people and seven who were diagnosed with MCI between two and three years after their initial brain scan and with Alzheimer's some seven years after the initial scan, has confirmed the same pattern of hippocampal atrophy, from the CA1 to the subiculum, and then other regions of the hippocampus.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/uoc--uri012810.php

Reference:

Apostolova, L.G. et al. In press. Subregional hippocampal atrophy predicts Alzheimer's dementia in the cognitively normal. Neurobiology of Aging, Available online 24 September 2008.

[392] Apostolova, L. G., Thompson P. M., Green A. E., Hwang K. S., Zoumalan C., Jack, Jr C. R., et al.
(2010). 3D comparison of low, intermediate, and advanced hippocampal atrophy in MCI.
Human Brain Mapping. 9999(9999), NA - NA.

seniors

Alzheimers

Related News

Cognitive training shown to help healthy older adults

Previous research has been equivocal about whether cognitive training helps cognitively healthy older adults.

Why exercise helps memory and learning

A number of studies, principally involving rodents, have established that physical exercise stimulates the creation of new brain cells in the

Resistance training benefits seniors with MCI

A study involving 86 older women (aged 70-80) with probable

Being active reduces Alzheimer's risk

A four-year study involving 716 elderly (average age 82) has revealed that those who were most physically active were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those least active.

Berries protect the aging brain

Over the years, I have reported on several studies that have found evidence that colorful berries — blueberries in particular (but I think that’s more of an artifact, due to the relative cheapness of these berries in North America) — benefit older b

Genes, brain size, brain atrophy, and Alzheimer’s risk

Genetic analysis of 9,232 older adults (average age 67; range 56-84) has implicated four genes in how fast your

Video game training benefits cognition in some older adults

A number of studies have found evidence that older adults can benefit from cognitive training.

Fluctuating sense of control linked to cognitive ability in older adults

Previous research has pointed to a typical decline in our sense of control as we get older. Maintaining a sense of control, however, appears to be a key factor in successful aging.

Larger belly linked to memory problems in people with HIV

A study involving 130 HIV-positive people has found that memory impairment was associated with a significantly larger waistline.

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids linked to brain aging

A study involving 1,575 older adults (aged 58-76) has found that those with DHA levels in the bottom 25% had smaller brain volume (equivalent to about 2 years of aging) and greater amounts of

Pages