Characterizing Cerebral Perfusion Changes in Subjective Cognitive Decline Using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography: A Case-Control Study.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigates regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alterations in individuals with SCD using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). To characterize rCBF patterns in SCD patients compared to healthy controls and examine the relationship between rCBF and cognitive function. We compared rCBF in 20 SCD patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using 99mTc-ECD SPECT imaging. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). SCD patients demonstrated significantly reduced rCBF in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG) (mean uptake ratio [UR] = 0.864 ± 0.090 vs. 1.030 ± 0.074, < 0.001) and right caudate (mean UR = 0.783 ± 0.068 vs. 0.947 ± 0.062, < 0.001) compared to controls. Additionally, negative correlations were observed between rCBF in these regions and CDR scores, particularly in the memory domain (rSTG: r = -0.37, = 0.016; right caudate: r = -0.39, = 0.011). Reduced rCBF in the rSTG and right caudate may represent early biomarkers for SCD, which could aid in the early detection of AD. These findings suggest that SPECT imaging might be a valuable tool for identifying individuals at risk of cognitive decline, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and targeted preventive strategies in the management of AD.