Comparing the Efficacy of Two Cognitive Screening Tools in Identifying Gray and White Matter Brain Damage among Older Adults
Table 2
Prevalence of structural changes on magnetic resonance imaging in older adults (N = 90) with no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or moderate cognitive impairment (MoCI).
Brain tissue-specific and region-specific abnormalities
NCI
MCI
MoCI
P value
(n = 39)
(n = 36)
(n = 15)
Periventricular white matter, n (%)
No lesions
11 (28.2)
6 (16.7)
2 (13.3)
0.220
Pencil-thin lining
16 (41.0)
19 (52.8)
8 (53.3)
Smooth halo
11 (28.2)
6 (16.7)
2 (13.3)
Irregular periventricular signal extending into the deep white matter
1 (2.6)
5 (13.9)
3 (20.0)
Deep white matter, n (%)
No lesions
11 (28.2)
8 (22.2)
3 (20.0)
0.625
Punctuate
16 (41.0)
18 (50.0)
7 (46.7)
Beginning confluence
10 (25.6)
6 (16.7)
2 (13.3)
Large confluent areas
2 (5.1)
4 (11.1)
3 (20.0)
Parietal atrophy, n (%)
Closed sulcus, without gyral atrophy
16 (41.0)
15 (41.7)
3 (20.0)
0.476
Mild sulcal widening and mild gyral atrophy
16 (41.0)
17 (47.2)
8 (53.3)
Substantial sulcal enlargement and substantial gyral atrophy
7 (17.9)
4 (11.1)
4 (26.7)
Medial temporal lobe atrophy, n (%)
No cerebrospinal fluid is visible around the hippocampus
20 (51.3)
16 (44.4)
2 (13.3)
0.001
Choroid fissure is slightly widened
15 (38.5)
14 (38.9)
4 (26.7)
Moderate widening of the choroid fissure, mild enlargement of the temporal horn, and mild loss of hippocampal height
3 (7.7)
6 (16.7)
5 (33.3)
Marked widening of the choroid fissure, moderate enlargement of the temporal horn, and moderate loss of hippocampal height
1 (2.5)
0 (0.0)
4 (26.7)
Global cortical atrophy, n (%)
Normal volume and no ventricular enlargement
16 (41.0)
12 (33.3)
3 (20.0)
0.296
Opening of sulci and mild ventricular enlargement
13 (33.3)
17 (47.2)
8 (53.3)
Volume loss of gyri and moderate ventricular enlargement
10 (25.6)
5 (13.9)
4 (26.7)
“Knife blade” atrophy and severe ventricular enlargement
