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Neural deterioration and compensation in visual short‐term memory among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Ye Xie, Tinghao Zhao, Wei Zhang, Qi Chen, Anqi Qiu, Yunxia Li, Yixuan Ku. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-01-17
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Among the atrophic brain regions in aMCI, VSTM performance correlated with the volume of the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) but not the medial temporal lobe (MTL), and this correlation was mainly present in patients with greater MTL atrophy. Furthermore, VSTM was primarily correlated with frontal structural connectivity in aMCI but was correlated with more distributed frontal and MTL connectivity in NC. This study provided evidence on neural adaptation in the precursor stages of AD, highlighting the compensatory role of PFC as MTL deteriorated and suggesting potential targets in early intervention for cognitive preservation. HIGHLIGHTS: Atrophic left medial temporal lobe (MTL) no longer correlated with visual short-term memory (VSTM) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Atrophic right middle frontal area continued to correlate with VSTM in aMCI. Frontal brain-behavior correlation was mainly present in the aMCI subgroup with greater medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy. Reliance of VSTM on frontal connectivity increased in compensation for MTL dysfunction.
Key findings
- Among the atrophic brain regions in aMCI, VSTM performance correlated with the volume of the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) but not the medial temporal lobe (MTL), and this correlation was mainly present in patients with greater MTL atrophy.
- Furthermore, VSTM was primarily correlated with frontal structural connectivity in aMCI but was correlated with more distributed frontal and MTL connectivity in NC.
- This study provided evidence on neural adaptation in the precursor stages of AD, highlighting the compensatory role of PFC as MTL deteriorated and suggesting potential targets in early intervention for cognitive preservation.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Atrophic left medial temporal lobe (MTL) no longer correlated with visual short-term memory (VSTM) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).
- Atrophic right middle frontal area continued to correlate with VSTM in aMCI.
Why it matters
In amnestic mild cognitive impairment, visual short-term memory correlated with right prefrontal cortex volume rather than medial temporal lobe volume, especially in those with greater medial temporal lobe atrophy. This suggests a possible compensatory role of the prefrontal cortex and potential targets for early intervention, but it does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yixuan Ku: h-index 21 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Fudan University: institution h-index 954 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39822072) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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 7 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
Xie, Y., Zhao, T., Zhang, W., Chen, Q., Qiu, A., Li, Y., et al. (2025). Neural deterioration and compensation in visual short‐term memory among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14475
Vancouver
Xie Y, Zhao T, Zhang W, Chen Q, Qiu A, Li Y, et al. Neural deterioration and compensation in visual short‐term memory among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.14475. PMID: 39822072.
BibTeX
@article{xie2025-39822072,
author = {Xie, Ye and Zhao, Tinghao and Zhang, Wei and Chen, Qi and Qiu, Anqi and Li, Yunxia and Ku, Yixuan},
title = {{Neural deterioration and compensation in visual short‐term memory among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.14475},
pmid = {39822072},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14475}
}
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