Utility of VSRAD for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in patients screened for dementia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of the voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer’s disease (VSRAD). METHODS: Clinical data from patients who underwent screening for dementia using VSRAD and the Japanese version of COGNISTAT, the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination, were retrospectively investigated to specify the domains of cognitive function that correlate with the statistical mean value of positive Z-scores in the target volume-of-interest (VOI). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess the mean value of positive Z-scores in discriminating patients with AD. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were included (18 male and 54 female; 15 patients with AD). The mean value of positive Z-scores in the target VOI was significantly correlated with standardized COGNISTAT scores for Orientation and Memory in all patients (r = –0.35 and –0.38, respectively). ROC curve analysis revealed that a cut-off of 1.57 for mean value of positive Z-scores in the target VOI provided 69.4% accuracy in discriminating patients with AD, with a sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.67. CONCLUSIONS: The results evinced the value of VSRAD in diagnosing AD. The degree of atrophy represented by the target VOI may reflect impairments in Orientation and Memory, which are early stage symptoms observed in AD.