MRI measures of hippocampus in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer patients

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the hippocampal volumes of patients diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and of healthy objects. We also tried to demonstrate whether there was a possible correlation between the cognitive tests and the hippocampal volumes. Materials and Methods: The mini mental state examination (MMSE), ADAS-Cog and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) were administrated to the patients having AD (n= 20). MMSE and ADAS-Cog to MCI patients (n= 20) and the healthy control group (n= 18). Both right and left hippocampal volumes were measured by a three dimensioned Surf Driver programme with the support of cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Both right and left hippocampal volumes of the AD group were significantly smaller than the MCI and the control groups. Bilateral hippocampal volumes of MCI group were also smaller than the control group (hippocampal volumes; AD < MCI < control groups). The differences between the right and the left hippocampal volumes were not significant in both AD or MCI groups. Conclusion: Surf Driver method successfully demonstrated the relative hippocampal atrophy in the AD and the MCI groups when compared with the healthy controls.