Structural features of the brain in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and their correlation with mild behavioral impairment

Cherkasov NS, Tomyshev AS, Lebedeva IS, Abdullina EG, Bozhko OV, Gavrilova SI, Kolykhalov IV. Structural features of the brain in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and their correlation with mild behavioral impairment. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2025;125(6):112‑119. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro2025125061112

Подписка 2026 Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова (S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry)

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

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OBJECTIVE

To determine the structural features of the brain in elderly patients with amnestic syndrome of mild cognitive decline (aMCI) and to identify correlations of these features with mild behavioral disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-three patients with aMCI (age 73.0±8.5 years, 9 males) and 34 mentally healthy subjects (66.8±9.6 years, 4 males) were examined. Cognitive status was assessed according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, and the severity of mild behavioral impairment was assessed according to the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist (MBI-C). Structural MRI images were obtained using a 3T Philips Ingenia. Cortical gray matter thickness, volumes of subcortical structures, and their correlation with MBI-C and MoCA scores were analyzed.

RESULTS

In patients with aMCI, a smaller cortical thickness was found in the left superior frontal gyrus and right precuneus (p<0.05), as well as negative correlations of these indicators with MBI-C scores. Also, this group showed smaller volumes of the amygdala and hippocampus of the left hemisphere (p<0.05) and a positive correlation between the volume of the left amygdala and MoCA scores.

CONCLUSION

The identified changes in structural MRI indicators and their correlation with neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive symptoms reflect the complex nature of the brain substrate of cognitive and behavioral impairment in aMCI. The results indicate the need for further search for clinically significant phenotypes in patients with aMCI, including those associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords:

structural MRI

cortical thickness

amygdala

old age

mild cognitive impairment

mild behavioral impairment

Authors:

Cherkasov N.S.

Mental Health Research Center

ORCID: 0000-0002-0464-9080

Tomyshev A.S.

Mental Health Research Center

ORCID: 0000-0001-6688-4329

Lebedeva I.S.

Mental Health Research Center

ORCID: 0000-0002-0649-6663

Abdullina E.G.

Mental Health Research Centre

ORCID: 0000-0002-7328-8397

Bozhko O.V.

Mental Health Research Center

ORCID: 0000-0002-4709-9461

Gavrilova S.I.

Mental Health Research Centre

SPIN RSCI: 6094-4303
Scopus AuthorID: 7004829216
ResearcherID: B-4548-2016
ORCID: 0000-0001-6683-0240

Kolykhalov I.V.

Mental Health Research Center

ORCID: 0000-0002-2358-1579

Received:

16.09.2024

Accepted:

14.10.2024

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