# Evaluation of Mild Cognitive Impairment through Perientorhinal/Hippocampal Imaging and Comprehensive Neuropsychological and Psychophysical Assessment

## TL;DR

This study explores how brain imaging and psychological assessments can help detect and monitor mild cognitive impairment, linking anxiety to brain atrophy.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach combining MRI analysis of specific brain regions with neuropsychological and psychophysical assessments to evaluate MCI.

## Key findings

- ERICA scores were associated with the severity of anxiety symptomatology in MCI patients.
- Psychological factors like anxiety may influence neurodegenerative processes through chronic stress and inflammation.
- Combining neuroimaging with neuropsychological assessments improves early detection and monitoring of MCI.

## Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a significant concern as it is a risk factor for AD progression, and early detection is vital in order to delay dementia onset and enable potential therapeutic interventions. Olfactory impairment is recognized as a predictive biomarker in neurodegenerative processes. The aims of this study were to explore the degree of entorhinal cortical atrophy (ERICA) and the severity of MCI symptoms; to analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results for the entorhinal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, peri entorhinal cortex, and the cerebellar tentorium; and to perform a comprehensive neuropsychological and psychophysical assessment. The main results highlighted that in our sample—multidomain amnesic MCI patients with hyposmic symptomatology—we found that ERICA scores were associated with the severity of anxiety symptomatology. One possible hypothesis to explain this observation is that anxiety may contribute to neurodegenerative processes by inducing chronic stress and inflammation. Future research should consider the longitudinal development of neuropsychological scores, anxiety disorders, and brain atrophy to determine their potential predictive value for MCI progression. These findings suggest the importance of psychological factors in MCI progression and the utility of neuropsychological assessment alongside neuroimaging techniques for early detection and follow-up in MCI patients.