Comparing the Efficacy of Two Cognitive Screening Tools in Identifying Gray and White Matter Brain Damage among Older Adults
Table 7
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 Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Brain tissue-specific and region-specific abnormalities
NCI
MCI
MoCI
P value
(n = 32)
(n = 13)
(n = 45)
Periventricular white matter, n (%)
No lesions
9 (28.1)
2 (15.4)
8 (17.8)
0.012
Pencil-thin lining
12 (37.5)
8 (61.5)
23 (51.1)
Smooth halo
11 (34.4)
3 (23.1)
5 (11.1)
Irregular periventricular signal extending into the deep white matter
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
9 (20.0)
Deep white matter, n (%)
No lesions
9 (28.1)
3 (23.1)
10 (22.2)
0.107
Punctuate
12 (37.5)
7 (53.8)
22 (48.9)
Beginning confluence
10 (31.3)
3 (23.1)
5 (11.1)
Large confluent areas
1 (3.1)
0 (0.0)
8 (17.8)
Parietal atrophy, n (%)
Closed sulcus, without gyral atrophy
11 (34.4)
8 (61.5)
15 (33.3)
0.438
Mild sulcal widening and mild gyral atrophy
15 (46.9)
4 (30.8)
22 (48.9)
Substantial sulcal enlargement and substantial gyral atrophy
6 (18.8)
1 (7.7)
8 (17.8)
Medial temporal lobe atrophy, n (%)
No cerebrospinal fluid is visible around the hippocampus
17 (53.1)
6 (46.2)
15 (33.3)
0.122
Choroid fissure is slightly widened
11 (34.4)
7 (53.8)
15 (33.3)
Moderate widening of the choroid fissure, mild enlargement of the temporal horn, and mild loss of hippocampal height
3 (9.4)
0 (0.0)
11 (24.4)
Marked widening of the choroid fissure, moderate enlargement of the temporal horn, and moderate loss of hippocampal height
1 (3.1)
0 (0.0)
4 (8.9)
Global cortical atrophy, n (%)
Normal volume, no ventricular enlargement
12 (37.5)
6 (46.2)
13 (28.9)
0.692
Opening of sulci and mild ventricular enlargement
12 (37.5)
5 (38.5)
21 (46.7)
Volume loss of gyri and moderate ventricular enlargement
8 (25.0)
2 (15.4)
9 (20.0)
“Knife blade” atrophy and severe ventricular enlargement
