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The contribution of voxel-based morphometry in staging patients with mild cognitive impairment
Bozzali M, Filippi M, Magnani G, Cercignani M, Franceschi M, Schiatti E, Castiglioni S, Mossini R et al.. Neurology, 2006-08-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective To assess whether different patterns of regional gray matter loss in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are associated with different risks of conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD), using MRI and voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Methods The authors recruited 22 patients with MCI, 22 patients with probable AD, and 20 healthy subjects (HS). T1 volumes from each subject were postprocessed according to an optimized VBM protocol. All patients were clinically followed up (mean [SD] time = 28.7 [5.7] months), and patients with MCI were reclassified into two groups (converters and nonconverters to AD). Results When comparing patients with AD to HS, widespread areas of reduced gray matter density were found predominantly in temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes and in the insula. Comparing MCI converters and nonconverters with HS, the converters showed more widespread areas of reduced gray matter density than nonconverters, with a pattern of abnormalities similar to that seen in patients with AD. Conversely, when comparing the same groups with patients with AD, MCI nonconverters showed a pattern of gray matter density similar to that of HS. Areas of decreased gray matter density were also found in MCI converters compared with nonconverters. Conclusions Different patterns of gray matter density distribution in patients with mild cognitive impairment may be associated to different rates of conversion to Alzheimer disease.
Key findings
- Objective To assess whether different patterns of regional gray matter loss in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are associated with different risks of conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD), using MRI and voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
- Results When comparing patients with AD to HS, widespread areas of reduced gray matter density were found predominantly in temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes and in the insula.
- Areas of decreased gray matter density were also found in MCI converters compared with nonconverters.
Why it matters
In this small study of 22 patients with mild cognitive impairment, those who later converted to Alzheimer disease showed more widespread reduced gray matter density than nonconverters, with a pattern similar to that seen in Alzheimer disease. This suggests that different patterns of gray matter loss on MRI may be associated with different risks of conversion.
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Study details
- Participants22
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
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 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 22 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 182 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.3 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 16 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 Andrea Falini: h-index 86 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16894107) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Bozzali, M., Filippi, M., Magnani, G., Cercignani, M., Franceschi, M., Schiatti, E., et al. (2006). The contribution of voxel-based morphometry in staging patients with mild cognitive impairment. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000228243.56665.c2
Vancouver
Bozzali M, Filippi M, Magnani G, Cercignani M, Franceschi M, Schiatti E, et al. The contribution of voxel-based morphometry in staging patients with mild cognitive impairment. Neurology. 2006. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000228243.56665.c2. PMID: 16894107.
BibTeX
@article{bozzali2006-16894107,
author = {Bozzali, M. and Filippi, M. and Magnani, G. and Cercignani, M. and Franceschi, M. and Schiatti, E. and Castiglioni, S. and Mossini, R. and others},
title = {{The contribution of voxel-based morphometry in staging patients with mild cognitive impairment}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000228243.56665.c2},
pmid = {16894107},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000228243.56665.c2}
}
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