ePrints

Does posterior cortical atrophy on MRI discriminate between Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and normal aging?

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Rosie Watson, Dr Sean Colloby, Dr Michael FirbankORCiD, Dr Emma Burton, Dr Robert Barber, Professor Andrew BlamireORCiD, Professor John O'Brien

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies suggest that posterior cortical atrophy may be a useful marker for early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is associated with less temporal lobe atrophy than AD, though posterior cortical atrophy may be greater. Therefore, we assessed whether visual rating scales for assessing posterior atrophy (PA), medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), and ventricular enlargement (VEn) aid in the discrimination between AD, DLB, and normal aging. Methods: T1-weighted MRI scans acquired at 3 Tesla were visually rated for PA (range 0-3), MTA (range 0-4), and VEn (range 0-3) in older subjects with AD (n = 36), DLB (n = 35), and healthy controls (n = 35). The diagnostic utility of MTA, PA, and VEn visual ratings in distinguishing AD and DLB from controls as well as AD from DLB was investigated. Results: Significantly higher MTA ratings were associated with AD and DLB compared to controls (p < 0.001). MTA ratings were greater in AD relative to DLB (U = 384.5, p = 0.004). For PA ratings, scores did not differ between groups (p = 0.20). VEn ratings were significantly higher in AD and DLB compared to controls (p = 0.003), but similar between AD and DLB (U = 384.5, p = 0.4). Conclusions: Unlike findings reported in younger subjects, visual ratings for PA are not a reliable marker at older ages for distinguishing AD from controls, or for distinguishing DLB from AD. However, visual ratings of MTA and VEn may be useful markers in distinguishing both AD and DLB from older subjects without dementia.

Publication metadata

Author(s): O'Donovan J, Watson R, Colloby SJ, Firbank MJ, Burton EJ, Barber R, Blamire AM, O'Brien JT

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Psychogeriatrics

Year: 2013

Volume: 25

Issue: 1

Pages: 111-119

Print publication date: 01/01/2013

ISSN (print): 1041-6102

ISSN (electronic): 1741-203X

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610212001214

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610212001214

Altmetrics

Funding

Share