Abstract
Background and Objective: Cognitive deficits in older adults attributable to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology are featured early on by hippocampal impairment. Among tests used to evaluate memory, verbal memory tests with controlled encoding and cued recall are believed to be specific for hippocampal impairment. The objective of this study was to assess the relation between left and right hippocampal volumes and several frequently used memory tests. Methods: Fifty six nondemented older adults (30 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 26 cognitively healthy older adults) underwent neuropsychological testing including: 1) The Enhanced Cued Recall test (ECR), a memory test with controlled encoding and recall; 2) the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), a verbal memory test without controlled encoding and with delayed recall; and 3) The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test (ROCF), a visuospatial memory test-recall condition. 1.5T brain MRI scans were used to measure estimated total intracranial volume (eTIV) along with hippocampal right and left volumes, which were measured with quantitative volumetry using FreeSurfer package (version 4.4.0). Spearman partial correlation controlled for age was used to correct for non-normal score distribution and effect of age. Results: We found moderate correlations of hippocampal volumes with AVLT 1-5 scores, AVLT delayed recall, ECR free and total recall, and ROCF reproduction. Total recall in ECR using cued recall was not superior to any of the free recall tests. No correlation in any memory test was achieved with eTIV. Conclusion: Verbal memory tests, either with controlled encoding and cued delayed recall (ECR), or without it (AVLT), as well as nonverbal memory test with delayed recall (ROCF), equally reflect hippocampal atrophy in nondemented older adults.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | S81-S90 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Alzheimer's Disease |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | s3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 Sept 2014 |
Event | 2013 International Congress on Vascular Dementia - Duration: 17 Oct 2013 → 20 Oct 2013 |
Bibliographical note
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSSupported by the project FNUSA-ICRC (no. CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0123) from the European Regional Development Fund, by European Social Fund within
the project Young Talent Incubator II (reg. no. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0117), by Czech Ministry of Health IGA NT 11225-4 grant, by MH CZ – DRO, University
S88 M. Vyhnalek et al. / Memory Tests Reflecting Hippocampal Atrophy
Hospital Motol, Prague,Czech Republic 00064203, by Grant Agency of Charles University in Prague, Grant Number 624012 and by CTSA Grant Number UL1
TR000135 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
Authors’ disclosures available online (http://www.jalz.com/disclosures/view.php?id=2161).
Keywords
- Amnestic mild cognitive impairment
- episodic memory
- hippocampus
- MRI