Amygdalar volume and psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: an MRI analysis
Language English Country Denmark Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
16367898
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0404.2006.00540.x
PII: ANE540
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Alzheimer Disease complications pathology psychology MeSH
- Amygdala pathology MeSH
- Atrophy MeSH
- Mental Disorders etiology pathology MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging * MeSH
- Neuropsychological Tests MeSH
- Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Severity of Illness Index MeSH
- Mental Status Schedule MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
OBJECTIVES: We measured the volumes of the amygdala to test the hypothesis that the reduction of amygdalar volume may be associated with psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients underwent neuropsychological investigation including the assessment of general clinical severity by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head, from which the volumes of the amygdalae were measured. The obtained values were compared with those of controls (n = 15). RESULTS: Patients with Alzheimer's dementia showed significant reduction in MRI volumetric measurements compared with controls. We found a significant correlation of MMSE score and absolute amygdala volume (r = 0.62, P < 0.01). Neither the absolute nor relative volume of the amygdala showed any correlation with NPI scores. CONCLUSIONS: The atrophy of the amygdala does not have a direct association with the existence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. MRI volumetry of the amygdala may be relevant as a marker of dementia severity in Alzheimer's disease.
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