Deep Gray Matter Changes in Alzheimer's Disease (360G-Wellcome-207218_Z_17_Z)

The septal nuclei and septum pellucidum have not received attention in relation to the study of Alzheimer’s disease(AD), despite evidence that they are involved in memory function. They are connected to the hippocampus & amygdala, which are key regions altered in the earliest stages of AD. Other structures (nuclei) within the basal forebrain have been investigated. The hypothesis that is to be tested is that the septal nuclei and septum pellucidum is smaller in AD patients compared to healthy controls (HC). The second hypothesis is that these structures are also smaller in Mild Cognitively Impaired (MCI) subjects compared to healthy controls. The initial step will be establishing the method for volumetric measurement of these structures in a small cohort of healthy and Alzheimer’s disease patients, in order to demonstrate that volume can be measured reliably. This protocol will then be used to measure the volume of the structures in AD patients, MCI subjects and HC. The three groups will be matched for age, education level, and sex. The study will advance our understanding of the neurodegenerative processes in the basal ganglia in the earliest stages of the disease, while translating what is known already from animal research.