Cognitive Impairment and Amygdala Subregion Volumes in Elderly with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

Motivation: This study was motivated by the need to understand the association between volume changes in specific amygdala subregions and cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD. Goal(s): The primary goal is to examine the relationship between amygdala subregion volumes and cognitive function in CSVD patients, aiming to identify specific atrophic patterns and their contributions to cognitive decline. Approach: A prospective cohort study included 114 CSVD patients and 129 healthy controls. Results: The study found significant atrophy in the left cortical nucleus among CSVD patients, with this atrophy correlating negatively with performance on cognitive tasks related to attention, memory, and executive function. Impact: These findings suggest that amygdala subregion atrophy, particularly in the left cortical nucleus, may serve as an early biomarker for cognitive impairment in CSVD.