Comparative diagnostic utility of different MR modalities in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Kejal Kantarci, Yue Cheng Xu, Maria M. Shiung, Peter C. O'Brien, Ruth H. Cha, Glenn E. Smith, Robert J. Ivnik, Bradley F. Boeve, Steven D. Edland, Emre Kokmen, Eric G. Tangalos, Ronald C. Petersen, Clifford R. Jack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

120 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR)-based hippocampal volumetry, single voxel 1H MR spectroscopy (1H MRS) and MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) measurements in discriminating patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normally aging elderly. Sixty-one normally aging elderly, 24 MCI and 22 AD patients underwent MR-based hippocampal volumetry, 1H MRS and DWI. 1H MRS voxels were placed over both of the posterior cingulate gyri, and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), myoinositol (MI)/Cr and NAA/MI ratios were obtained. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were derived from DWI, and hippocampal borders were traced to measure hippocampal ADC. At 80% specificity, the most sensitive single measurement to discriminate MCI (79%) and AD (86%) from controls was hippocampal volumes. The most sensitive single measurement to discriminate AD from MCI was posterior cingulate gyrus NAA/Cr (67%). At high specificity (>85-90%), combinations of MR measures had superior diagnostic sensitivity compared with any single MR measurement for the AD vs. control and control vs. MCI comparisons. The MR measures that best discriminate more from less affected individuals along the cognitive continuum from normal to AD vary with disease severity. Selection of imaging measures used for clinical assessment or monitoring efficiency of therapeutic intervention should be tailored to the clinical stage of the disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)198-207
Number of pages10
JournalDementia and geriatric cognitive disorders
Volume14
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Diffusion-weighted imaging
  • H MRS
  • Hippocampal volumetry
  • MRI
  • Mild cognitive impairment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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