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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is thought to be the prodromal phase to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We analyzed patterns of gray matter (GM) loss to examine what characterizes MCI and what determines the difference with AD.

Thirty-three subjects with AD, 14 normal elderly controls (NCLR), and 22 amnestic MCI subjects were included and underwent brain MR imaging. Global GM volume was assessed using segmentation and local GM volume was assessed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM); VBM was optimized for template mismatch and statistical mass.

AD subjects had significantly (12.3%) lower mean global GM volume when compared to controls (517 ± 58 vs. 590 ± 52 ml; P < 0.001). Global GM volume in the MCI group (552 ± 52) was intermediate between these two: 6.2% lower than AD and 6.5% higher than the controls but not significantly different …