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Diffusion tensor imaging in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a review
Chua TC, Wen W, Slavin MJ, Sachdev PS.. Current opinion in neurology, 2008-02-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Purpose of review To provide a comprehensive review of diffusion tensor imaging in evaluating microstructural changes in the spectrum of cognitive decline from ageing to Alzheimer's disease, in particular focusing on mild cognitive impairment. Recent findings Mild cognitive impairment represents a transition phase between normal ageing and early Alzheimer's disease. Diffusion tensor imaging has emerged as a useful imaging modality that provides information about the structural integrity of tissue. In healthy ageing, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities occur in the frontal regions, specifically the frontal white matter, anterior cingulum and the genu of the corpus callosum. Some studies report an anterior-posterior gradient change with greater abnormalities in the genu than the splenium of the corpus callosum and in the frontal than parietal white matter. In Alzheimer's disease, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities are concentrated in the posterior regions: the parahippocampal gyrus, temporal white matter, splenium of corpus callosum and posterior cingulum. In mild cognitive impairment, changes seem to parallel those in Alzheimer's disease, with similar posterior regions showing abnormalities. Summary Due to the similarities in diffusion tensor imaging findings in both mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, it is likely that diffusion tensor imaging has the potential to emerge as a useful clinical tool for early detection and monitoring of disease progression and treatment response in mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer's disease patients.
Key findings
- In healthy ageing, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities occur in the frontal regions, specifically the frontal white matter, anterior cingulum and the genu of the corpus callosum.
- Some studies report an anterior-posterior gradient change with greater abnormalities in the genu than the splenium of the corpus callosum and in the frontal than parietal white matter.
- In Alzheimer's disease, diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities are concentrated in the posterior regions: the parahippocampal gyrus, temporal white matter, splenium of corpus callosum and posterior cingulum.
- In mild cognitive impairment, changes seem to parallel those in Alzheimer's disease, with similar posterior regions showing abnormalities.
- Summary Due to the similarities in diffusion tensor imaging findings in both mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, it is likely that diffusion tensor imaging has the potential to emerge as a useful clinical tool for early detection and monitoring of disease progression and treatment response in mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer's disease patients.
Why it matters
This review reports that diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities occur in frontal regions in healthy ageing, in posterior regions in Alzheimer's disease, and in similar posterior regions in mild cognitive impairment. It suggests diffusion tensor imaging has potential as an imaging marker, but does not report any treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Current opinion in neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Current Opinion in Neurology: journal h-index 165 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 276 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.8 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Perminder Singh Sachdev: h-index 147 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | UNSW Sydney: institution h-index 1,101 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18180656) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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APA 7th
Chua, T. C., Wen, W., Slavin, M. J., & Sachdev, P. S. (2008). Diffusion tensor imaging in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a review. Current opinion in neurology. https://doi.org/10.1097/wco.0b013e3282f4594b
Vancouver
Chua TC, Wen W, Slavin MJ, Sachdev PS. Diffusion tensor imaging in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a review. Current opinion in neurology. 2008. doi:10.1097/wco.0b013e3282f4594b. PMID: 18180656.
BibTeX
@article{chua2008-18180656,
author = {Chua, T. C. and Wen, W. and Slavin, M. J. and Sachdev, P. S.},
title = {{Diffusion tensor imaging in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a review}},
journal = {Current opinion in neurology},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1097/wco.0b013e3282f4594b},
pmid = {18180656},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/wco.0b013e3282f4594b}
}
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