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Subjective cognitive impairment: Functional MRI during a divided attention task

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

J. Rodda ,
T. Dannhauser ,
D.J. Cutinha ,
S.S. Shergill  and
Z. Walker
J. Rodda*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, Windeyer Building, 46, Cleveland Street, LondonW1T 4JF, UK North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
T. Dannhauser
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, Windeyer Building, 46, Cleveland Street, LondonW1T 4JF, UK North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
D.J. Cutinha
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, Windeyer Building, 46, Cleveland Street, LondonW1T 4JF, UK North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
S.S. Shergill
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Box P096, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK Wellcome Department of Imaging Sciences, Institute of Neurology, University CollegeLondon, UK
Z. Walker
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, Windeyer Building, 46, Cleveland Street, LondonW1T 4JF, UK North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 0 1279 827893; fax: +01992 571089. E-mail address: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Individuals with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) have persistent memory complaints but normal neurocognitive performance. For some, this may represent a pre-mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given that attentional deficits and associated brain activation changes are present early in the course of AD, we aimed to determine whether SCI is associated with brain activation changes during attentional processing.

Methods

Eleven SCI subjects and 10 controls completed a divided attention task during functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

SCI and control groups did not differ in sociodemographic, neurocognitive or behavioural measures. When group activation during the divided attention task was compared, the SCI group demonstrated increased activation in left medial temporal lobe, bilateral thalamus, posterior cingulate and caudate.

Conclusion

This pattern of increased activation is similar to the pattern of decreased activation reported during divided attention in AD and may indicate compensatory changes. These findings suggest the presence of early functional changes in SCI; longitudinal studies will help to further elucidate the relationship between SCI and AD.

Keywords

Mild cognitive impairmentfMRISubjective memory complaintsAttentionAging and cognitionSubjective cognitive impairment
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 26 , Issue 7 , October 2011 , pp. 457 - 462
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2010

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