Using visual scales to determine brain atrophy subtypes in Alzheimer’s Disease

AD subtypes based on patterns of brain atrophy. Regional atrophy was measured with the MTA, PA, and GCA-F visual rating scales based only on T1-weighted images. In the 3 visual rating scales, a score of zero denotes no atrophy, whereas scores from 1 to 3 (PA and GCA-F) or 4 (MTA) indicate an increasing degree of atrophy. The typical AD subtype was defined as abnormal MTA together with abnormal PA and/or abnormal GCA-F. The limbic-predominant subtype was defined as abnormal MTA alone with normal PA and GCA-F. The hippocampal-sparing subtype included abnormal PA and/or abnormal GCA-F but normal MTA. The minimal atrophy subtype was defined as normal scores in MTA, PA, and GCA-F. The figure shows examples of each subtype in axial and coronal sections of the brain. AD, Alzheimer’s disease; MTA, medial temporal atrophy scale; PA, posterior atrophy scale; GCA-F, global cortical atrophy scale – frontal subscale; A, anterior part of the brain; P, posterior part of the brain; R, right; L, left.

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1159/000515322

Parietal atrophy score on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in normally aging people

Aim: Our intention was to create a simple visual evaluation of parietal atrophy on MRI of the brain useful in identifying neurodegenerative dementias, especially Alzheimer‘s disease. We assessed the changes of the parietal regions dur ing natural aging. Patients and methods: We created a new rat ing scale that we named the Parietal atrophy score. This method is based on semiquantitative scoring of three structures on coronal slices in the entire parietal lobe: parietal gyri, sulcus cingularis posterior and precuneus. Each structure was rated accord ing to the visual classification size as 0 – a normal size without atrophy, 1 – a borderline finding or 2 – a considerable atrophy. These ratings were sum marized into one score for each hemisphere and then these two were integrated into one score for the entire brain. Using a visual rating scale, we clas sified the parietal regions in 74 elderly subjects with a normal Mini-Mental State Examination score (29 ± 1 point) with a wide range of ages between 48–87 years. Results: Increas ing age is as sociated with a mild progression of the parietal lobe atrophy (r = 0.2; p = 0.05). The over all score of the parietal tissue was not as sociated with education, gender or hand dominance. Conclusion: Our new visual rating system of parietal atrophy is an easy and fast method for use in clinical practice. Natural aging is accompanied with negligible parietal atrophic changes. Parietal atrophy score on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in normally aging people.

• DOI: 
• 10.14735/amcsnn2018414