Abstract
Aim: Our intention was to assess whether a scoring of parietal atrophy on MRI of the brain using a simple visual assessment named PAS (Parietal Atrophy Score) could be used in the diagnosis of lateonset Alzheimer's disease. Patients and methods: The structure of the parietal lobes was evaluated by our visual scale named PAS,which is based on semiquantitative scoring ofatrophy ofthree structures in the parietal region: sulcus cingularis posterior, precuneus and parietal gyri.
Parietal atrophy was assessed in 24 patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease in the stage of mild dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE 21 +/- 3 points) and 26 age-matched individuals with normal scores on the MMSE (29 +/- 1 point). Results: We did not find any statistically significant difference in the size of any structure of the right and left parietal lobe according to the PAS visual scale between control individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease (p > 0.05 in all cases).
Conclusion: During lateonset Alzheimer's disease there is no significant reduction of parietal cortex until the stage of mild dementia compared to normal aging. Parietal atrophy evaluated according to the PAS visual scale is not an appropriate marker to be used in the diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer's disease in mild stages.