Neurology 2002;58:1476-1482
© 2002 American Academy of Neurology
Hippocampal volume as an index of Alzheimer neuropathology
Findings from the Nun Study
K. M. Gosche, PhD,
J. A. Mortimer, PhD,
C. D. Smith, MD,
W. R. Markesbery, MD and
D. A. Snowdon, PhD
From the Institute on Aging (Drs. Gosche and Mortimer), University of South Florida, Tampa; and Sanders–Brown Center on Aging (Drs. Markesbery and Snowdon), and Departments of Neurology (Drs. Smith, Markesbery, and Snowdon) and Pathology (Dr. Markesbery), College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Karen M. Gosche, Institute on Aging, University of South Florida, MDC-56, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612-3899; e-mail: jmortime{at}hsc.usf.edu
Objective: To determine whether hippocampal volume is a sensitive and specific indicator of Alzheimer neuropathology, regardless of the presence or absence of cognitive and memory impairment.
Methods: Postmortem MRI scans were obtained for the first 56 participants of the Nun Study who were scanned. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of hippocampal volume in predicting fulfillment of Alzheimer neuropathologic criteria and differences in Braak staging.
Results: Hippocampal volume predicted fulfillment of neuropathologic criteria for AD for all 56 participants (p < 0.001): 24 sisters who were demented (p = 0.036); 32 sisters who remained nondemented (p < 0.001), 8 sisters who remained nondemented but had memory impairment (p < 0.001), and 24 sisters who were intact with regard to memory and cognition at the final examination prior to death (p = 0.003). In individuals who remained nondemented, hippocampal volume was a better indicator of AD neuropathology than a delayed memory measure. Among nondemented sisters, Braak stages III and VI were distinguishable from Braak stages II or lower (p = 0.001). Among cognitively intact individuals, those in Braak stage II could be distinguished from those in stage I or less (p = 0.025).
Conclusion: Volumetric measures of the hippocampus may be useful in identifying nondemented individuals who satisfy neuropathologic criteria for AD as well as pathologic stages of AD that may be present decades before initial clinical expression.
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Correspondence:
Read all Correspondence
- Autopsy-confirmation of hippocampal atrophy in AD
- A. David Smith
- Neurology Online, 27 Jun 2002
[Full text]
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