AUTHOR=Rivas-Fernández Miguel Ángel , Lindín Mónica , Zurrón Montserrat , Díaz Fernando , Aldrey-Vázquez José Manuel , Pías-Peleteiro Juan Manuel , Vázquez-Vázquez Laura , Pereiro Arturo Xosé , Lojo-Seoane Cristina , Nieto-Vieites Ana , Galdo-Álvarez Santiago 

TITLE=Brain Atrophy and Clinical Characterization of Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Different Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarker Profiles According to the AT(N) Research Framework of Alzheimer’s Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.799347

DOI=10.3389/fnhum.2022.799347

ISSN=1662-5161

ABSTRACT=Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate, in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the brain atrophy that may distinguish between three AT(N) biomarker-based profiles and contrasting its clinical value.  

Methods: Structural MRI was employed to evaluate volume and cortical thickness differences in MCI patients with different ATN profiles: A-T-N-: Normal AD biomarkers; A+T-N-: AD Pathologic Change; and A+T+N+: Prodromal AD. Sensitivity and specificity of these changes were estimated. 

Results: An initial atrophy in MTL areas was found in the A+T-N- and A+T+N+ groups, spreading towards parietal and frontal regions in A+T+N+ patients. These structural changes allowed distinguishing ATN profiles within the AD continuum; however, the profiles and their pattern of neurodegeneration were unsuccessful to determine the current clinical status. 

 Conclusions: Structural MRI is useful to determine the specific brain structural changes of AT(N) profiles along the AD continuum, allowing differentiation between MCI adults with or without pathological AD biomarkers.