Regional brain volumes (MRI volumetry) and neuropsychological performance in patients with dementia of Alzheimer type and age-matched controls

156

Abstracts / Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 68 (1997) 155-184

faces (indicator for hemispheric asymmetry). (2) Recurrent memory task for blocks and digits (indicator for intactness of hippocampal functions). Results: Enlargement of size of left ventricle, volume reduction of the left pre-frontal region and a reversed lateralization of the planum temporale are significantly correlated with certain neuropsychological indicators of abnormal lateralization in our patients. However, only weak correlations between volume of the amygdala/hippocampus complex and performance in the memory task are observed. Discussion: The substantial correlation between the volumetric alterations of distinct brain areas and the abnormal functional lateralization as observed in the tachistoscopic task leads to the presumption that both are only different features of the same lesion, which may have an important impact on pathogenesis of the disease. Regional brain volumes (MRI volumetry) and neuropsychological performance in patients with dementia of AIzheimer type and age-matched controls K.R. Atzor, R. Heun, G. Mostashari, J. Gawehn, J. Tintera. M. Burkart, P. St6ter

Department of Neuroradiology, University of Diisseldorf Germany

Purpose: Comparison of volumes of certain brain areas in patients with dementia of Alzheimer Type and age-matched controls. Examination of relations of cognitive performance with specific cerebral areas in demented subjects. Material and methods: 12 patients with Dementia of Alzheimer Type (9 f, 3 m) and 10 controls from the general population aged above 60 years (mean age 76 +_ 7 vs. 72 _+8). MRh 3D GE sequence (TR 17 ms, TE 5 ms, flip angle 35 °) coronal slices (3 ram). Volumetry including frontal lobes and hippocampus: Allegro program (ISG). A neuropsychological test battery including the Mini-Mental Status Examination and the Buschke Selective Reminding Test was used to assess different aspects of cognitive dysfunctions including short and long term memory. Results: As expected patients with dementia showed signs of regional and global cerebral atrophy in comparison to age-matched controls. Some relevant correlations between morphometric and neuropsychological measures could be observed. Discussion: The observed relations of brain areas with cognitive test results will be discussed in relation to methodologic problems and in relation to reductions in cortical N-acetyl-aspartate levels which were previously observed in the same sample. Lateralization in schizophrenic patients: correlation between II23-IBZM-SPECT and qEEG U. Bauer a, G. Schueler a, B. Gallhofer a, M. Puille ~, B. Rosmeier h, R. Bauer b, P. Rappelsherger c

UZentram fiir Psvchiatrie, Jusnts-Liebig Universitiit Giessen, Germany. bAbteihmg Nuklearmedizin, Justus-Liebig Universit& Giessen, Germany. Clnstitut fiir Neurophysiologie, Universitiit Giessen, Germany

II23-1BZM-SPECT and functional qEEG were performed in eight schizophrenic patients diagnosed by DMS III R criteria. Sagittal activity profiles through basal ganglia and frontal/pre-frontal cortex were calculated and evaluated semiquantitatively. Four patients showed symmetrical pattern with parallel basal and cortical activity profiles (group S). The other four patients exhibited asymmetrical pattern (group A). Functional topographic EEG was performed according to a standardized protocol at rest with eyes open and closed and during three cognitive tasks. Whereas no reactivity differences were found at rest, significant differences in the response reactivity between S and A were observed during cognitive tasks. According to these preliminary results, hemispheric dopaminergic imbalance in schizophrenia may be responsible for the functional disintegration of cortical and subcortical areas, causing disturbances in information processing and I123-1BZM-SPECT reveals localized differences m cortical dopaminergic function. A morphometrie CT-scan study in so-called 'endogenous" versus 'neurotic' depression B. Baumann, P. Danos, C. Bornschlegl, B. Bogerts

Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdebtmg, Germany

1"o investigate possible alterations in brain morphology in different depressive syndromes, planimetry of lateral vcntricles, total brain area, third ventricle, all cortical sulci, lateral sulcus, and interhemispheric CSF space was performed in CT-scans of 23 patients with 'endogenous' depression and 28 patients with 'neurotic' depression (ICD-9) as compared to 56 healthy controls, patients and controls being not older than 60 years. Measurements were expressed as ratio to whole brain area. Both the endogenous and the neurotic patient-group showed significant morphological alterations compared to controls with a different pattern for each group. Endogenous depressed patients had larger maximum arcas of third ventricle and an enlargement of left frontal and bifronto-basal sulci. Neurotic depressed patients had larger left frontal and left parieto-occipital sulci. The results demonstrate that 'neurotic" and 'endogcnous' depressed patients have different lypcs of brain pathology, neurotics having more left hemisphcric, endogenous patients more third ventricular and left frontal/bifronto-basal sulcal enlargcment. Are infantile subdural hygromas or benign enlargement of subarachnoid spaces a risk factor for adult psychiatric disorders? K. Bechter, R. Schfittler

Department Psychiam, I1 and Department of t~ychiat O' q[" tile Bezirkskrankenhatts Giin=bu~, ~hffver~ityof Uhn. Gemmnv

Infantile subdural hygromas (ISH) are a not infrcqucnt fimling possibly caused by non-accidental head injury, u.-,ually resorbed before the age of 2 years without treatment. A