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Mapping brain morphological and functional conversion patterns in amnestic MCI: a voxel-based MRI and FDG-PET study
Morbelli S, Piccardo A, Villavecchia G, Dessi B, Brugnolo A, Piccini A, Caroli A, Frisoni G et al.. European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, 2010-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Purpose To reveal the morphological and functional substrates of memory impairment and conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD) from the stage of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods Brain MRI and FDG-PET were performed in 20 patients with aMCI and 12 controls at baseline. During a mean follow-up of about 2 years, 9 patients developed AD (converters), and 11 did not (nonconverters). All images were processed with SPM2. FDG-PET and segmented grey matter (GM) images were compared in: (1) converters versus controls, (2) nonconverters versus controls, and (3) converters versus nonconverters. Results As compared to controls, converters showed lower GM density in the left parahippocampal gyrus and both thalami, and hypometabolism in the precuneus, posterior cingulate and superior parietal lobule in the left hemisphere. Hypometabolism was found in nonconverters as compared to controls in the left precuneus and posterior cingulated gyrus. As compared to nonconverters, converters showed significant hypometabolism in the left middle and superior temporal gyri. Conclusion The discordant topography between atrophy and hypometabolism reported in AD is already present at the aMCI stage. Posterior cingulate-precuneus hypometabolism seemed to be an early sign of memory deficit, whereas hypometabolism in the left temporal cortex marked the conversion to AD.
Key findings
- FDG-PET and segmented grey matter (GM) images were compared in: (1) converters versus controls, (2) nonconverters versus controls, and (3) converters versus nonconverters.
- Results As compared to controls, converters showed lower GM density in the left parahippocampal gyrus and both thalami, and hypometabolism in the precuneus, posterior cingulate and superior parietal lobule in the left hemisphere.
- Hypometabolism was found in nonconverters as compared to controls in the left precuneus and posterior cingulated gyrus.
- As compared to nonconverters, converters showed significant hypometabolism in the left middle and superior temporal gyri.
Why it matters
In patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, those who later converted to Alzheimer's disease showed different patterns of brain shrinkage and reduced metabolism than those who did not. Posterior cingulate-precuneus hypometabolism appeared early, while left temporal hypometabolism marked conversion, but this does not test any treatment.
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Study details
- Participants20
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging: journal h-index 224 (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 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 20 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 110 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.1 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.2× 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 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Flavio Mariano Nobili: h-index 84 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Genoa: institution h-index 727 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19662411) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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APA 7th
Morbelli, S., Piccardo, A., Villavecchia, G., Dessi, B., Brugnolo, A., Piccini, A., et al. (2010). Mapping brain morphological and functional conversion patterns in amnestic MCI: a voxel-based MRI and FDG-PET study. European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1218-6
Vancouver
Morbelli S, Piccardo A, Villavecchia G, Dessi B, Brugnolo A, Piccini A, et al. Mapping brain morphological and functional conversion patterns in amnestic MCI: a voxel-based MRI and FDG-PET study. European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. 2010. doi:10.1007/s00259-009-1218-6. PMID: 19662411.
BibTeX
@article{morbelli2010-19662411,
author = {Morbelli, S. and Piccardo, A. and Villavecchia, G. and Dessi, B. and Brugnolo, A. and Piccini, A. and Caroli, A. and Frisoni, G. and others},
title = {{Mapping brain morphological and functional conversion patterns in amnestic MCI: a voxel-based MRI and FDG-PET study}},
journal = {European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1007/s00259-009-1218-6},
pmid = {19662411},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-009-1218-6}
}
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