MRI-based atrophy subtypes in a young memory clinic cohort: associations with clinical and biomarker profiles

TL;DR

This study identifies MRI-based brain atrophy patterns in memory clinic patients and links them to clinical and biomarker profiles, supporting their use in diagnosing and targeting Alzheimer's disease.

Contribution

The study demonstrates distinct MRI atrophy subtypes in a young memory clinic cohort and their associations with biomarkers and cerebrovascular burden, relevant for precision medicine.

Findings

Limbic and typical atrophy subtypes were more common in males, APOE ε4 carriers, and Aβ-positive patients with higher p-tau181 and NFL levels.

Cortical predominant atrophy was more frequent in females, while minimal atrophy was linked to milder cognitive impairment and higher depressive symptoms.

Findings were consistent in Aβ-positive patients and those eligible for anti-Aβ therapy, supporting the subtypes' diagnostic and therapeutic relevance.

Abstract

Brain atrophy subtypes are increasingly recognized in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. However, their relevance across the real-world memory clinic spectrum, from subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD and non-AD dementias, remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify MRI-based atrophy subtypes in a relatively young memory clinic and examine associations with demographic, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, and cerebrovascular burden to inform precision medicine approaches.

We included all consecutive patients (SCI to dementia), evaluated at the Karolinska University-Hospital Memory Clinic (Stockholm, Sweden) between 2018 and 2023 with available clinical and 3T MRI data. Subtypes were defined using FreeSurfer-derived volumetric measures and a validated algorithm combining categorical classification (typical, limbic predominant, cortical predominant, minimal atrophy) with continuous indices of typicality (cortical predominant–limbic predominant) and severity (minimal atrophy–typical). Demographics, cognitive profiles, APOE ε4 status, CSF biomarkers (Aβ42, Aβ42/40, phosphorylated [p]-tau181, total tau, neurofilament light chain [NFL]), and cerebrovascular burden were compared across subtypes. Analyses were replicated in Aβ-positive individuals and those eligible for anti-Aβ therapy.

Among 809 patients (median age 60.0 years [interquartile-range 56.0–63.0], 56.1% female), 38.2% had SCI, 44.4% MCI, and 17.4% dementia. CSF biomarkers were available in 596 (73.7%).

Limbic predominant and typical subtypes had more males (59.3% and 50.0%, respectively; group-wise p < 0.001), higher APOE ε4 frequency (47.7% and 41.0%, p = 0.02), greater cerebrovascular burden, and poorer memory. These subtypes were more often Aβ positive (46.1% and 46.5%, p = 0.01). A cortical predominant pattern was frequent in females (66.0%, p < 0.001), while minimal atrophy was associated with milder cognitive impairment (49.0% SCI, 45.5% MCI) and higher depressive symptoms. In Aβ-positive patients (n = 231), typical and limbic subtypes had higher p-tau181 (median: 83.0 and 84.5 pg/mL, respectively; p < 0.001), NFL (1120.0 and 1125.0 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and lower Aβ42/40 ratios (0.051 and 0.049, p = 0.02). Findings remained consistent across continuous atrophy measures and in the 14.9% (n = 89) eligible for anti-Aβ therapy.

MRI-based atrophy subtypes exhibit distinct clinical and biomarker profiles, consistently observed in Aβ-positive and anti-Aβ-therapy-eligible patients. These findings support their diagnostic utility in memory clinics and relevance for biologically targeted AD trials.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-026-01972-2.

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