Comparing the Efficacy of Two Cognitive Screening Tools in Identifying Gray and White Matter Brain Damage among Older Adults
Table 6
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) also screened by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Brain tissue-specific and region-specific abnormalities
NCI
MCI
MoCI
P value
(n = 53)
(n = 31)
(n = 6)
Periventricular white matter, n (%)
No lesions
10 (18.9)
8 (25.8)
1 (16.7)
0.211
Pencil-thin lining
24 (45.3)
16 (51.6)
3 (50.0)
Smooth halo
16 (30.2)
2 (6.5)
1 (16.7)
Irregular periventricular signal extending into the deep white matter
3 (5.7)
5 (16.1)
1 (16.7)
Deep white matter, n (%)
No lesions
12 (22.6)
9 (29.0)
1 (16.7)
0.369
Punctuate
22 (41.5)
16 (51.6)
3 (50.0)
Beginning confluence
15 (28.3)
2 (6.5)
1 (16.7)
Large confluent areas
4 (7.5)
4 (12.9)
1 (16.7)
Parietal atrophy, n (%)
Closed sulcus, without gyral atrophy
20 (37.7)
14 (45.2)
0 (0.0)
0.237
Mild sulcal widening and mild gyral atrophy
25 (47.2)
11 (35.5)
5 (83.2)
Substantial sulcal enlargement and substantial gyral atrophy
8 (15.1)
6 (19.4)
1 (16.7)
Medial temporal lobe atrophy, n (%)
No cerebrospinal fluid is visible around the hippocampus
29 (54.6)
9 (29.0)
0 (0.0)
0.039
Choroid fissure is slightly widened
18 (34.0)
12 (38.7)
3 (50.0)
Moderate widening of the choroid fissure, mild enlargement of the temporal horn, and mild loss of hippocampal height
5 (9.4)
7 (22.6)
2 (33.3)
Marked widening of the choroid fissure, moderate enlargement of the temporal horn, and moderate loss of hippocampal height
1 (1.9)
3 (9.7)
1 (16.7)
Global cortical atrophy, n (%)
Normal volume, no ventricular enlargement
19 (35.8)
11 (35.5)
1 (16.7)
0.921
Opening of sulci and mild ventricular enlargement
21 (39.6)
13 (41.9)
4 (66.7)
Volume loss of gyri and moderate ventricular enlargement
12 (22.6)
6 (19.4)
1 (16.7)
“Knife blade” atrophy and severe ventricular enlargement
