Zhigang Qi, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Kun Cheng Li MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) is the transitional continuum from normal aging to Alzheimer’s disease(AD) with heterogeneity. Our study is to evaluate the changes of attention network in amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients.

Two groups including fourteen normal aging and fourteen aMCI patients were enrolled in this study and performed with resting-state fMRI. Demographics of the aMCI patients and normal aging including age, sex, and education years were matched between the two groups. Independent component analysis was used to evaluate the attention network of aMCI.

Independent component analysis of resting-state fMRI data identified the attention network in normal aging comprising bilateral PFC, MPFC, PCC, IPS, insula, lateral temporal neocortex and left caudate body. Activation in the attention network of aMCI patients mainly lateralized to the right hemisphere including right PFC, MPFC, IPL, lateral temporal neocortex, insula and with additional regions in left hemisphere like left PFC and left caudate body. By comparison, the attention network of aMCI patients showed reduced activation in the left hemisphere including PFC, MPFC, PCC, and IPS and increased activation mainly in the right hemisphere including PFC, lateral temporal neocortex, precentral area, and claustrum.

We may suggest that in the individuals at risk for AD, impaired function in the attention network concentrating on the left hemisphere, especially in the left IPS, is consistent with what happed in the AD. Increased activation in the right PFC and lateral temporal neocortex considered as ventral attention network may be a compensation.

Attention network study can be used to test the whether there was attentional deficit in the aMCI and can be helpful in evaluation of the progress of the disease.

Qi, Z, Li, K, Independent Component Analysis of Attention Network in Amnestic MCI Patients: A Pilot Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8010421.html