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MRI measures of temporoparietal regions show differential rates of atrophy during prodromal AD
Desikan RS, Fischl B, Cabral HJ, Kemper TL, Guttmann CR, Blacker D, Hyman BT, Albert MS et al.. Neurology, 2008-07-30
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background MRI studies have demonstrated differential rates of atrophy in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus during the prodromal phase of Alzheimer disease (AD). The current study was designed to determine whether a broader set of temporoparietal regions show differential rates of atrophy during the evolution of AD. Methods Sixteen regions of interest (ROIs) were analyzed on MRI scans obtained at baseline and follow-up in 66 subjects comprising three groups: controls = individuals who were cognitively normal at both baseline and follow-up; nonconverters = subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at both baseline and follow-up; converters had MCI at baseline but had progressed to AD at follow-up. Results Annualized percent change was analyzed with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), covaried for age. The MANOVA demonstrated an effect of group (p = 0.004). Post hoc comparisons demonstrated greater rates of atrophy for converters vs nonconverters for six ROIs: hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, temporal pole, middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and inferior temporal gyrus. Converters showed differentially greater rates of atrophy than controls in five of the same ROIs (and inferior parietal lobule). Rates of change in clinical status were correlated with the atrophy rates in these regions. Comparisons between controls and nonconverters demonstrated no differences. Conclusion These results demonstrate that temporoparietal regions show differential rates of atrophy on MRI during prodromal Alzheimer disease (AD). MRI data correlate with measures of clinical severity and cognitive decline, suggesting the potential of these regions of interest as antemortem markers of prodromal AD.
Key findings
- Background MRI studies have demonstrated differential rates of atrophy in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus during the prodromal phase of Alzheimer disease (AD).
- Results Annualized percent change was analyzed with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), covaried for age.
- The MANOVA demonstrated an effect of group (p = 0.004).
- Post hoc comparisons demonstrated greater rates of atrophy for converters vs nonconverters for six ROIs: hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, temporal pole, middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and inferior temporal gyrus.
- Comparisons between controls and nonconverters demonstrated no differences.
Why it matters
In people with mild cognitive impairment who progressed to Alzheimer's disease, several temporoparietal regions showed faster atrophy than in those who did not progress. These atrophy rates correlated with changes in clinical status, but the study does not test any treatment or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants66
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 1 / 4 | 66 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 | 4 / 7 | Cited 93 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.7 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ronald Killiany: h-index 82 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology: institution h-index 2,557 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18672473) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000320055.57329.34
- PubMed: 18672473
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Desikan, R. S., Fischl, B., Cabral, H. J., Kemper, T. L., Guttmann, C. R., Blacker, D., et al. (2008). MRI measures of temporoparietal regions show differential rates of atrophy during prodromal AD. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000320055.57329.34
Vancouver
Desikan RS, Fischl B, Cabral HJ, Kemper TL, Guttmann CR, Blacker D, et al. MRI measures of temporoparietal regions show differential rates of atrophy during prodromal AD. Neurology. 2008. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000320055.57329.34. PMID: 18672473.
BibTeX
@article{desikan2008-18672473,
author = {Desikan, R. S. and Fischl, B. and Cabral, H. J. and Kemper, T. L. and Guttmann, C. R. and Blacker, D. and Hyman, B. T. and Albert, M. S. and others},
title = {{MRI measures of temporoparietal regions show differential rates of atrophy during prodromal AD}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000320055.57329.34},
pmid = {18672473},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000320055.57329.34}
}
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