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Functional implications of hippocampal volume and diffusivity in mild cognitive impairment
Müller MJ, Greverus D, Dellani PR, Weibrich C, Wille PR, Scheurich A, Stoeter P, Fellgiebel A.. NeuroImage, 2005-08-03
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Hippocampal atrophy has been related to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer disease (AD), but the diagnostic significance of cross-sectionally determined hippocampal volumes is still ambiguous. Diffusion-Tensor-Imaging (DTI) in MCI patients revealed an association of microstructural changes in hippocampal areas with verbal memory decline. MRI volumetry and DTI were combined to investigate 18 MCI patients attending a memory clinic, and 18 carefully age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Neuropsychological testing, high resolution T1-weighted volume MRI scans, and DTI scans with regions-of-interest in hippocampal areas were applied. Left hippocampal volume was significantly lower (-11%, P = 0.02) in MCI patients than in control subjects. No significant differences were found for the right hippocampus (-4%). Mean diffusivity (MD) was significantly elevated in MCI patients vs. controls in left (+10%, P = 0.002) and right hippocampal areas (+13%, P = 0.02). Hippocampal volume and MD values were not significantly correlated. Combining left hippocampal volume and MD measures showed that lower left hippocampal volumes were associated with poor verbal memory performance particularly when co-occurring with high MD values. No comparable associations could be found regarding the right hippocampal formation and with respect to non-verbal memory function. The results demonstrate that microstructural abnormalities as revealed by DTI are very sensitive early indicators of hippocampal dysfunction. The combination of macro- and microstructural parameters in hippocampal areas could be promising in early detection of neurodegenerative processes.
Key findings
- Diffusion-Tensor-Imaging (DTI) in MCI patients revealed an association of microstructural changes in hippocampal areas with verbal memory decline.
- Left hippocampal volume was significantly lower (-11%, P = 0.02) in MCI patients than in control subjects.
- No significant differences were found for the right hippocampus (-4%).
- Mean diffusivity (MD) was significantly elevated in MCI patients vs. controls in left (+10%, P = 0.002) and right hippocampal areas (+13%, P = 0.02).
- Hippocampal volume and MD values were not significantly correlated.
Why it matters
In 18 people with mild cognitive impairment, left hippocampal volume was lower and hippocampal diffusivity was higher than in controls, and combining these measures related to poorer verbal memory. This is a small imaging study of brain structure and memory, not a test of any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
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 (NeuroImage) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | NeuroImage: journal h-index 523 (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 | 2005 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 212 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.2 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 27 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Andreas Fellgiebel: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz: institution h-index 934 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16084115) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Müller, M. J., Greverus, D., Dellani, P. R., Weibrich, C., Wille, P. R., Scheurich, A., et al. (2005). Functional implications of hippocampal volume and diffusivity in mild cognitive impairment. NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.06.029
Vancouver
Müller MJ, Greverus D, Dellani PR, Weibrich C, Wille PR, Scheurich A, et al. Functional implications of hippocampal volume and diffusivity in mild cognitive impairment. NeuroImage. 2005. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.06.029. PMID: 16084115.
BibTeX
@article{muller2005-16084115,
author = {Müller, M. J. and Greverus, D. and Dellani, P. R. and Weibrich, C. and Wille, P. R. and Scheurich, A. and Stoeter, P. and Fellgiebel, A.},
title = {{Functional implications of hippocampal volume and diffusivity in mild cognitive impairment}},
journal = {NeuroImage},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.06.029},
pmid = {16084115},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.06.029}
}
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