A pattern of regional brain atrophy has been discovered in some people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), researchers have confirmed.

The findings, which are published in the online version of Radiology, suggest that MCI patients with the atrophy pattern are at a greater risk of going on to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Study lead author Linda McEvoy, assistant project scientist at the Department of Radiology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, US, said that the pattern had previously been noticed "only after a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease".

"Our results show that some individuals with MCI have the atrophy pattern characteristic of mild Alzheimer's disease, and these people are at higher risk of experiencing a faster rate of brain degeneration and a faster decline to dementia than individuals with MCI who do not show that atrophy pattern," she said.

While the atrophy is associated with loss of memory, it also affects the brain's ability to plan, organise and solve problems.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among people over 60.

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