Amygdala Nuclei Atrophy in Cognitive Impairment and Dementia : Insights from High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Date
2025-01-15
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Cognitive impairment affects memory, reasoning, and problem-solving, with early detection being critical for effective management. The amygdala, a key structure in emotional processing and memory, may play a pivotal role in detecting cognitive decline. This study examines differences in amygdala nuclei volumes in patients with varying levels of cognitive performance to evaluate its potential as a biomarker. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study of 35 participants was conducted and classified into three groups: the normal (≥26), moderate (15-25), and low (≤14) cognitive performance groups based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T scanner was used to assess amygdala nuclei volumes. Results: Significant amygdala atrophy was observed in multiple amygdala nuclei across cognitive performance groups, with more pronounced changes in the low-performance group. The right hemisphere nuclei, including the lateral and basal nuclei, showed more significant differences, indicating their sensitivity to cognitive decline. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of amygdala nuclei atrophy as a biomarker for cognitive impairment. Additional research with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs is needed to confirm these findings and determine their diagnostic value.
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Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.
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Humans, Amygdala/diagnostic imaging, Male, Female, Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology, Atrophy, Aged, Middle Aged, Dementia/diagnostic imaging, Neuropsychological Tests, Aged, 80 and over, 3.2 Clinical medicine, 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database
Citation
Peiseniece, E, Zdanovskis, N, Šneidere, K, Kostiks, A, Karelis, G, Platkājis, A & Stepens, A 2025, 'Amygdala Nuclei Atrophy in Cognitive Impairment and Dementia : Insights from High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging', Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), vol. 61, no. 1, 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61010130