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When, where, and how the corpus callosum changes in MCI and AD: a multimodal MRI study
Di Paola M, Di Iulio F, Cherubini A, Blundo C, Casini AR, Sancesario G, Passafiume D, Caltagirone C et al.. Neurology, 2010-04-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background The corpus callosum (CC) has been shown to be susceptible to atrophy in Alzheimer disease (AD) as a correlate of wallerian degeneration or retrogenesis. However, when and where these 2 mechanisms intervene is still unclear. Methods In 3 memory clinics, we recruited 38 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 38 patients with mild AD, and 40 healthy controls (HC). Combining voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging, we investigated CC white matter (WM) density and fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (DR), and axial diffusivity (DA). Results Compared with HC, patients with amnestic MCI showed reduced WM density in the anterior CC subregion; however, FA, DR, and DA did not differ between the 2 groups. Significant changes were found in patients with mild AD compared with HC in the anterior and posterior CC regions. These differences were evident in both voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging analyses. Specifically, we found reduced callosal WM density in the genu, posterior body, and splenium; decreased FA and increased DR in the anterior CC subregion; and increased DA, with no difference in the FA, in the posterior CC subregion. Conclusions Callosal changes are already present in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer disease (AD). The precocious involvement of the anterior callosal subregion in amnestic MCI extends to posterior regions in mild AD. Two different mechanisms might contribute to the white matter changes in mild AD: wallerian degeneration in posterior subregions of the corpus callosum (suggested by increased axial diffusivity without fractional anisotropy modifications) and a retrogenesis process in the anterior callosal subregions (suggested by increased radial diffusivity without axial diffusivity modifications).
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APA 7th
Di Paola, M., Di Iulio, F., Cherubini, A., Blundo, C., Casini, A. R., Sancesario, G., et al. (2010). When, where, and how the corpus callosum changes in MCI and AD: a multimodal MRI study. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7d8cb
Vancouver
Di Paola M, Di Iulio F, Cherubini A, Blundo C, Casini AR, Sancesario G, et al. When, where, and how the corpus callosum changes in MCI and AD: a multimodal MRI study. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7d8cb. PMID: 20368633.
BibTeX
@article{dipaola2010-20368633,
author = {Di Paola, M. and Di Iulio, F. and Cherubini, A. and Blundo, C. and Casini, A. R. and Sancesario, G. and Passafiume, D. and Caltagirone, C. and others},
title = {{When, where, and how the corpus callosum changes in MCI and AD: a multimodal MRI study}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7d8cb},
pmid = {20368633},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181d7d8cb}
}
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Key findings
- Results Compared with HC, patients with amnestic MCI showed reduced WM density in the anterior CC subregion; however, FA, DR, and DA did not differ between the 2 groups.
- Significant changes were found in patients with mild AD compared with HC in the anterior and posterior CC regions.
- Specifically, we found reduced callosal WM density in the genu, posterior body, and splenium; decreased FA and increased DR in the anterior CC subregion; and increased DA, with no difference in the FA, in the posterior CC subregion.
Why it matters
In this study, patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment already showed reduced white matter density in the anterior corpus callosum, while diffusion measures did not differ from controls. Patients with mild Alzheimer disease showed changes in both anterior and posterior corpus callosum regions, suggesting callosal changes appear early.
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Study details
- Participants38
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
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 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 38 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 153 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.5 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.8× 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 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Gianfranco Spalletta: h-index 85 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Rome Tor Vergata: institution h-index 778 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20368633) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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