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Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
Yoichi Sawada, Toru Satoh, Hideaki Saba, Yoshiki Kato, Tomoko Kuwada, Sayoko Shima, Kana Murakami, Megumi Sasaki et al.. Neuroimage Reports, 2025-04-28
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The global aging population has led to a significant rise in dementia and cognitive decline, with Alzheimer's disease as the primary cause. Early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of dementia, is critical for timely intervention. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is commonly used for cognitive screening, yet its limitations-such as ceiling effects and educational biases-may hinder the early identification of subtle cognitive impairments. This cross-sectional study employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore brain regions positively correlated with MMSE scores in a cohort of 510 participants. Significant gray matter volume (GMV) reductions were observed in the bilateral lateral frontal lobes, left medial frontal lobe, left hippocampus, left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and bilateral inferior temporal gyri in association with lower MMSE scores. Participants were classified into three groups-Normal Cognition (NC), MCI, and Dementia (D)-based on MMSE cutoff values. Compared to the NC group, the MCI group exhibited significant GMV reductions in the left hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left ACC, and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). The D group showed further GMV reductions in the bilateral hippocampus and left inferior temporal gyrus compared to the MCI group. These findings highlight the clinical utility of VBM-based structural MRI in assessing localized brain atrophy associated with cognitive decline, supporting its potential role in early diagnosis and intervention for MCI. Further research integrating longitudinal studies and multimodal biomarkers is warranted to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Sawada, Y., Satoh, T., Saba, H., Kato, Y., Kuwada, T., Shima, S., et al. (2025). Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample. Neuroimage Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynirp.2025.100264
Vancouver
Sawada Y, Satoh T, Saba H, Kato Y, Kuwada T, Shima S, et al. Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample. Neuroimage Reports. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ynirp.2025.100264. PMID: 40567454.
BibTeX
@article{sawada2025-40567454,
author = {Sawada, Yoichi and Satoh, Toru and Saba, Hideaki and Kato, Yoshiki and Kuwada, Tomoko and Shima, Sayoko and Murakami, Kana and Sasaki, Megumi and others},
title = {{Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample}},
journal = {Neuroimage Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.ynirp.2025.100264},
pmid = {40567454},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynirp.2025.100264}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The global aging population has led to a significant rise in dementia and cognitive decline, with Alzheimer's disease as the primary cause.
- Significant gray matter volume (GMV) reductions were observed in the bilateral lateral frontal lobes, left medial frontal lobe, left hippocampus, left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and bilateral inferior temporal gyri in association with lower MMSE scores.
- Compared to the NC group, the MCI group exhibited significant GMV reductions in the left hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left ACC, and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC).
- The D group showed further GMV reductions in the bilateral hippocampus and left inferior temporal gyrus compared to the MCI group.
- These findings highlight the clinical utility of VBM-based structural MRI in assessing localized brain atrophy associated with cognitive decline, supporting its potential role in early diagnosis and intervention for MCI.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study of 510 participants, lower MMSE scores were associated with reduced gray matter volume in several brain regions, and the MCI group showed reductions in the left hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left anterior cingulate cortex, and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex compared with normal cognition. This links a common screening test to brain structure but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants510
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuroimage Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Neuroimage Reports: journal h-index 20 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 510 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Kaori Harano: h-index 5 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Okayama Prefectural University: institution h-index 137 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40567454) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2025.100264
- PubMed: 40567454
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neuroimage Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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