Ventricular size in patients with presenile dementia of the Alzheimer's type
M. Albert, M. A. Naeser, H. L. Levine and A. J. Garvey
The computed tomograms (CTs) of eight mild to moderately impaired patients
with presenile dementia of Alzheimer's type (aged 53 to 64 years) were
compared with scans of ten healthy age-matched controls. Two computer
programs and a variety of linear measurements were used to analyze the CTs.
A single computerized measure of fluid volume on the slice at the maximum
width of the bodies of the lateral ventricles correctly predicts the group
membership of 88.89% of the subjects. Computerized measures on other CT
slices do not increase discrimination between the groups. Easily performed
linear measures correctly predict the group membership of 78.9% of the
subjects. Computerized measures of ventricular size may provide highly
valuable information for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in the
presenile age range.
