抄録
This study aimed to evaluate the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) via MRI in the early diagnosis of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 173 individuals (68 males and 105 females) who visited our memory clinic or underwent brain screening between August and December 2024 were enrolled. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values were measured in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions, and comparisons were made across four groups: cognitively normal (n = 19), SCI (n = 15), MCI (n = 47), and dementia (n = 78). As a result, a positive age correlation was found for prefrontal MD values and a negative age correlation for frontal MD values in the healthy brain group. Significant differences were found among the four groups in the prefrontal cortex, especially in the MCI group, which differed significantly from the healthy and dementia groups. On the other hand, no significant differences were found in FA values. These findings suggest that MD values in the prefrontal cortex may serve as potential imaging biomarkers for the early detection of SCI and MCI. Additionally, visualization of white matter tracts using tractography proved helpful as a supplementary tool in illustrating structural changes associated with disease progression. Future large-scale longitudinal studies are warranted to further explore the clinical application of DTI in the early diagnosis and prevention of dementia.
