# Patterns of longitudinal subcortical atrophy over one year in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and its impact on cognitive performance: a preliminary study

## TL;DR

This study identifies brain atrophy patterns in amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients over one year and links them to cognitive decline.

## Contribution

The study reveals specific subcortical atrophy patterns in aMCI and their impact on cognitive performance.

## Key findings

- aMCI patients showed atrophy in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus compared to healthy controls.
- Baseline volumes of the thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus correlated with memory and visuospatial skills.
- Subcortical atrophy in these regions may aid in the diagnosis of aMCI.

## Abstract

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a risk factor for dementia, and thus, it is of interest to enlighten specific brain atrophy patterns in aMCI patients. We aim to define the longitudinal atrophy pattern in subcortical structures and its effect on cognition in patients with aMCI.

Twenty patients with aMCI and 20 demographically matched healthy controls with baseline and longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging scans and neuropsychological assessments were studied. The algorithm FIRST (FMRIB’s integrated registration and segmentation tool) was used to obtain volumes of subcortical structures (thalamus, putamen, caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, hippocampus, and amygdala). Correlations between volumes and cognitive performance were assessed.

Compared with healthy controls, aMCI demonstrated subcortical atrophies in the hippocampus (p = 0.001), nucleus accumbens (p = 0.003), and thalamus (p = 0.003) at baseline. Significant associations were found for the baseline volumes of the thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus with memory, the thalamus with visuospatial skills.

aMCI demonstrated subcortical atrophies associated with cognitive deficits. The thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus may provide additional diagnostic information for aMCI.