There are 3 papers on hippocampal mean diffusivity in aging research: 3 observational studies in people.
3 papers study it4 findings
“Individuals with higher hippocampal MD at age 73 experienced a greater decline in all three cognitive abilities between ages 73 and 76.”
- Humans3
Effects
2Tau-associated cognitive decline
downin humans1
1 study
Tau-associated cognitive decline
downin humans1
Hippocampal mean diffusivity is linked with lower tau-associated cognitive decline in humans (dementia-free (14 MCI)) (interaction p-values < 0.006).
“Lower hippocampal MD (indicating better microstructural integrity) significantly attenuated the negative association between greater tau burden in Braak stage I‐V and poorer global cognition”
Humansdementia-free (14 MCI)hippocampusn = 192
AAIC 2025 abstract
Episodic memory
downin humans1
1 study
Episodic memory
downin humans1
Hippocampal mean diffusivity is linked with worse episodic memory in amyloid-positive older adults.
“increased hippocampal MD was associated with worse memory and greater tau PET burden in Braak stages II-IV, but only in individuals who were amyloid positive”
Humansin amyloid-positive older adultshippocampusn = 52
Hippocampus
Associations
2Tau PET burden
upin humans1
1 study
Tau PET burden
upin humans1
Hippocampal mean diffusivity is associated with tau PET burden in amyloid-positive older adults.
“increased hippocampal MD was associated with worse memory and greater tau PET burden in Braak stages II-IV, but only in individuals who were amyloid positive”
Humansin amyloid-positive older adultshippocampusn = 52
Hippocampus
Cognitive decline
upin humans1
1 study
Cognitive decline
upin humans1
Hippocampal mean diffusivity predicts cognitive decline in humans (community-dwelling adults).
“Individuals with higher hippocampal MD at age 73 experienced a greater decline in all three cognitive abilities between ages 73 and 76.”
Humanscommunity-dwelling adultshippocampus3 years
Coupled changes in hippocampal structure and cognitive ability in later life
Brain and behavior