Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease usually accompanied by regional atrophy that can be detected noninvasively using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An abundant... Show moreAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease usually accompanied by regional atrophy that can be detected noninvasively using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An abundant literature has demonstrated the value of quantitative measurements of regional atrophy in AD, suggesting that MR based volumetry and morphometry could be valuable and useful in clinical practice. The aim of this paper is mainly to recall the most critical points to consider when using MRI for automated brain volumetry and morphometry and review briefly the main findings in the literature on brain volumetry and morphometry in AD. Show less
Staekenborg, S.S.; Waal, H. de; Admiraal-Behloul, F.; Barkhof, F.; Reiber, J.H.C.; Scheltens, P.; ... ; Flier, W.M. van der 2010
Purpose: To determine the frequency of neurological signs in a memory clinic population and to explore their associations with white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Methods: We included patients with... Show morePurpose: To determine the frequency of neurological signs in a memory clinic population and to explore their associations with white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Methods: We included patients with Alzheimer disease (AD; n = 210), vascular dementia (VaD; n = 34), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 86) and subjective complaints (n = 153). The presence of extrapyramidal and unilateral signs was assessed from medical charts. On MRI, WMH volumes were extracted automatically. Results: Extrapyramidal signs were found in 10% and unilateral signs in 12% of the patients. Age-and sex-adjusted extrapyramidal signs occurred more often in VaD compared to patients with subjective complaints. Unilateral signs were more prevalent in all groups compared to patients with subjective complaints. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with WMH as the dependent variable showed a main effect of diagnosis (p < 0.001), but not of extrapyramidal signs (p = 0.62). In contrast, 2-way ANOVA showed main effects of diagnosis (p < 0.001) and unilateral signs (p = 0.001). Furthermore, there was an interaction between these factors (p = 0.04); if unilateral signs were present, patients with subjective complaints and VaD showed more WMH, whereas there was no relation in AD and MCI. Conclusion: Extrapyramidal and unilateral signs are common in memory clinic patients, but are only modestly related to WMH. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel Show less
