Hippocampal Subfield Viscoelasticity in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Evaluated with MR Elastography

Peyton L. Delgorio, Lucy V. Hiscox, Grace McIlvain, Mary K. Kramer, Alexa M. Diano, Kyra E. Twohy, Alexis A. Merritt, Matthew D.J. McGarry, Hillary Schwarb, Ana M. Daugherty, James M. Ellison, Alyssa M Lanzi, Matthew L. Cohen, Christopher R. Martens, Curtis L. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Hippocampal subfields (HCsf) are brain regions important for memory function that are vulnerable to decline with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which is often a preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies in aMCI patients often assess HCsf tissue integrity using measures of volume, which has little specificity to microstructure and pathology. We use magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to examine the viscoelastic mechanical properties of HCsf tissue, which is related to structural integrity, and sensitively detect differences in older adults with aMCI compared to an age-matched control group. Group comparisons revealed HCsf viscoelasticity is differentially affected in aMCI, with CA1-CA2 and DG-CA3 exhibiting lower stiffness and CA1-CA2 exhibiting higher damping ratio, both indicating poorer tissue integrity in aMCI. Including HCsf stiffness in a logistic regression improves classification of aMCI beyond measures of volume alone. Additionally, lower DG-CA3 stiffness predicted aMCI status regardless of DG-CA3 volume. These findings showcase the benefit of using MRE in detecting subtle pathological tissue changes in individuals with aMCI via the HCsf particularly affected in the disease.
Original languageEnglish
Article number103327
JournalNeuroimage Clinical
Volume37
Early online date18 Jan 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01-AG058853, R01-EB027577, and K01-AG054731. Participant recruitment was organized through the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of HealthR01-AG058853, K01-AG054731, R01-EB027577

    Keywords

    • Brain
    • Hippocampus
    • Mechanical Properties
    • Mild Cognitive Impairment
    • Neurodegeneration
    • Stiffness

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Clinical Neurology
    • Neurology
    • Cognitive Neuroscience
    • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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