MRI-based comparative study of different mild cognitive impairment subtypes: protocol for an observational case-control study

Yang Yu, Weina Zhao, Siou Li, Changhao Yin, Yang Yu, Weina Zhao, Siou Li, Changhao Yin

Abstract

Introduction: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) comprise the 2 main types of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The first condition generally progresses to Alzheimer's disease, whereas the second is likely to develop into vascular dementia (VD). The brain structure and function of patients with MCI differ from those of normal elderly individuals. However, whether brain structures or functions differ between these 2 MCI subtypes has not been studied. This study is designed to analyse neuroimages of brain in patients with VaMCI and aMCI using multimodality MRI (structural MRI (sMRI), functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)).

Methods and analysis: In this study, 80 participants diagnosed with aMCI, 80 participants diagnosed with VaMCI, and 80 age-matched, gender-matched and education-matched normal controls (NCs) will be recruited to the Hongqi Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Heilongjiang, China. All participants will undergo neuroimaging and neuropsychological evaluations. The primary outcome measures will be (1) microstructural alterations revealed by multimodal MRIs, including sMRI, resting-state functional MRI and DTI; and (2) a neuropsychological evaluation, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Memory and Executive Screening (MES), trail making test, Stroop colour naming condition and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, to evaluate global cognition, memory function, attention, visuospatial skills, processing speed, executive function and emotion, respectively.

Trial registration number: NCT02706210; Pre-results.

Keywords: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment; Neuroimaging techniques; Neuropsychological; Vascular mild cognitive impairment.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the current prospective diagnostic trial. Eighty participants diagnosed with aMCI, 80 participants diagnosed with VaMCI, and 80 age-matched, gender-matched and education-matched NCs will be subjected to full neuropsychological tests, including the MMSE, MoCA, AVLT, MES, TMT, Stroop colour naming condition, CDR scale and neuroimaging tests, including sMRI, DTI and fMRI. aMCI, amnestic mild cognitive impairment; AVLT, Auditory Verbal Learning Test; CDR, Clinical Dementia Rating; FA, fractional anisotropy; axial diffusivity (AxD); DR, radial diffusivity; DTI, diffusion tensor imaging; fMRI, functional MRI; MD, mean diffusivity; MES, Memory and Executive Screening; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; NC, normal control; sMRI, structural MRI; TMT, trail making test; VaMCI, vascular mild cognitive impairment.

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