Comparison of Visual Rating Scale Based on Brain 18F-FDG-PET and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test in Probable Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Objecives: Recently, imaging biomarkers like flouro-deoxi-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) become even more important for evaluation probable AD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation between Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) and metabolic function of brain regions determined by FDG-PET in patients with probable AD.

Materials and methods: Thirty seven (37) patients who had diagnosis of probable AD were included. MoCA test and metabolic measurements of brain regions by FDG-PET were performed in all patients. A visual scoring was performed to obtain the rates of hypometabolism in brain regions.

Results: Median age of the patients was 77 (minimum 65-maximum 83) years. On the right hemisphere, MOCA test score decreased according to visual FDG-PET score of parietal lobe (15±5.1, 11.8±8.4 and 8.5±5.9; p=0.032). MOCA test score was 16±5.8, 13.1±7.6 and 9.1±6.1 in patients with left temporal lobe and 15.2±5.2, 11.8±7.8 and 8.5±5.9 in patients with left parietal lobe according to visual FDG-PET scores respectively (p=0.035; p=0.02). The comparison of the other right and left hemisphere regions and MOCA test scores were not significant.

Conclusion: The present study is emphasized that the MoCA test which is easily applied in outpatient clinics can be demonstrated the hypometabolism of bilateral parietal and left temporal brain regions related with pathophysiology of AD.