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Age, Alzheimer disease, and brain structure.

TitleAge, Alzheimer disease, and brain structure.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsRaji, CA, Lopez, OL, Kuller, LH, Carmichael, OT, Becker, JT
JournalNeurology
Volume73
Issue22
Pagination1899-905
Date Published2009 Dec 01
ISSN1526-632X
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Linear Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Retrospective Studies
Abstract<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Lack of clear understanding remains on the overlapping atrophy patterns of aging and early Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology in gray matter (GM) of the brain in vivo.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To evaluate the independent and overlapping patterns of GM atrophy in normal aging and AD.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>A total of 169 cognitively normal subjects and 33 persons with probable AD enrolled in the longitudinal Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study underwent 3-dimensional volumetric MRI scans. Controls remained cognitively normal for at least 5 years after their MRI scans and the probable AD subjects were relatively early in their clinical course with an average modified Mini-Mental State Examination score of 76/100. The scans were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry adjusting for total intracranial volume, gender, education, and race.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>With older age, GM volume was lower in the sensorimotor and heteromodal association areas in frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes, as well as in the cerebellum (false discovery rate p = 0.05). Additional atrophy was observed in the posterior hippocampus, thalamus, and middle cingulate gyrus. By contrast, atrophy was seen in subjects with AD in the anterior hippocampal/parahippocampal regions and the precuneus. Normal aging and AD overlapped in the hippocampal body and the entorhinal cortex.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Brain atrophy with aging was observed in supratentorial and infratentorial areas, as well in primary motor, sensory, and heteromodal association regions. Age and Alzheimer disease exert independent gray matter atrophy patterns but these effects overlapped substantially in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex.</p>
DOI10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181c3f293
Alternate JournalNeurology
PubMed ID19846828
PubMed Central IDPMC2788799
Grant ListK01 AG030514 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P41 RR013642-116703 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
AG15928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85085 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
U01AI035041 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R03MH081721 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
K01 AG030514-01A1 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R03DA025986 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P01AG05133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-35129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01MH072947 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
AG20098-06 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P41 RR013642 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
R01AG20098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005133-26 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
5 U01 AT00162-08 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
K01 AG 030514 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG05133-23 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85084 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R03MH081723 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States