Antisaccade task reflects cortical involvement in mild cognitive impairment

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a6cbfe
• Publication Date: 2013-08-29T04:35:24Z
• Authors: Hilary W. Heuer; Jacob B. Mirsky; Erwin L. Kong; Bradford C. Dicke...; Bruce L. Miller; Joel H. Kramer; Adam L. Boxer
• Keywords: Neuropsychological test; Executive dysfunction

<h3>Objective:</h3> The aims of this study were to examine executive dysfunction using an antisaccade (AS) task in normal elderly (NE) and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) Alzheimer disease (AD) as well evaluate the relationship between AS performance cortical thinning within AD-associated regions. <h3>Methods:</h3> We recorded eye movements 182 subjects (NE: 118; MCI: 36; AD: 28) during task. also performed neuropsychological measures function for comparison. Brain MRI scans collected on most subjects, thickness was determined 9 regions known exhibit atrophy AD dementia ("AD signature"). investigated relationships performance, possible correlations thickness. <h3>Results:</h3> MCI resembled that NE; impaired relative both NE. In all correlated function, even after controlling severity. but not NE, frontoparietal signature performance. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> is a useful measure across spectrum. MCI, may reflect burden brain involved oculomotor control; however, impairments NE have etiologies other than incipient AD.