Memory impairment in AD association with Dentate Gyrus atrophy: A pilot study using the Uniform Data Set Neuropsychological Battery and 7T MRI

Motivation: The research study is primarily motivated by the need to understand the relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD), hippocampal structure, and cognitive function. Goal(s): To evaluate whether the atrophy of specific hippocampal subfields correlates with cognitive decline in individuals with Alzheimer's disease?Approach: 36 participants (19 with AD) were scanned at 7T. Hippocampal sub-field volumes obtained by segmentation of high-resolution TSE images were compared to the neuropsychological test scores. Results: In AD participants, hippocampal volume correlated with memory category cue and recognition memory scores. In analysis of hippocampal subfield volumes, the dentate gyrus volume significantly correlated with recognition and cued memory scores. Impact: These findings matter because they provide crucial insights into the relationship between hippocampal subfield atrophy and cognitive decline in AD. It has the potential to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, targeted treatments, and the understanding of the neurobiology of AD.