The aim of the present study was to examine the involvement of brain structures, especially the amygdala-hippocampal complex, in dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), and to assess the relation of amygdala-hippocampal atrophy with memory dysfunction. 14 patients with DAT and 10 healthy age-matched controls were examined with different neuropsychologic tests including the UCLA-Auditory Verbal Learning Test. MRI was performed with a conventional 1.5-tesla scanner. Atrophy was found in many brain structures of demented subjects in comparison with healthy age-matched controls. The volumes of amygdala-hippocampal complexes and of the temporal lobes of demented subjects were more reduced than the total brain volume and other structures. Memory dysfunction was highly correlated with atrophy of the amygdala-hippocampal complexes and of the temporal lobes. Consequently, DAT seems to affect the amygdala-hippocampal complex and their related function (i.e. memory) more than other cerebral structures, but cerebral degeneration in DAT is not restricted to these structures.

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Zusammenfassung. Anhand eines Zwillingskollektivs und einer Gruppe ersterkrankter Schizophrener (zehn eineiige und zehn zweieiige Zwillingspaare, 38 ersterkaankte Schizophrene, 15 Kontrollen) wixd ein m6glicher genetischer Einflug auf Gr6Be und Windungsmuster des Planum temporate untersucht. MRT: FLASH-3D-Tl-gewichtete Datens~itze aus koronaren 3-mm-Schichten; 3D-Rekonstruktion mit ISG-Workstation Atlegro. Gemessen wurden L~inge ª Fl~iche des Planum temporale und L~inge des Heschlschen Gyrus. Der Windungsverlauf wurde nach qualitativen Kriterien beurteilt. Schizophrene zeigen im Gegensatz zu gesunden Kontrollen, eineiigen und zweieiigen Zwillingen vor allem bei der L~inge und weniger bei der Fl~iche des Planum temporale ein Rechtsª Die Unterschiede in der Rechts-links-Differenz sind bei ein-und zweieiigen Zwillingen etwa gteich grog, ebenso die Unterschiede in der Seitendifferenz der Windungsverl~iufe. Morphometrisch ergibt sich kein ausreichender Anhalt fª eine ª genetische Determinierung des Planum temporale, so dag die fehlende Lateralisation bzw. das Rechtsª bei den hier untersuchten Schizophrenen auf anderen vorgeburtlichen Einflª beruhen kann. MRT Examination of Asymmetry of the Pianum Temporale in Twins and First Episode SchizophrenicsSummary. Our airo was to examine a possible genetic determination of the dismrbed cerebral lateralisation in schizophrenics. Morphometric data of planum temporale of monozygotic and dizygotic twins were evatuated for congruence and compared to first episode schizophrenics and normal controls (10 monozygotic and 10 dizygotic twin pairs, 38 first episode schizophrenics, 15 normal controts). MRT: FLASH 3D T1weighted sequence, 3 mm coronal slices. Postprocessing on workstation ISG Allegro with 3D-reconstruction of the temporal lobe and evaluation of the ]ength and size of planum temporale and shape of Heschl's gyrus. In contrast to the normal left dominance of the size of planum temporale in twins and normal controls, schizophrenics showed a symmetry of slight dominante of right planum temporale. There was no significant difference in the asymmetry and non-congruence between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. The lack of similarity of planum temporale in monozygotic twins is an argument against genetic detemfination of size and shape and therefore its disturbed laterality in schizophrenics might be due to non-genetic, developmental factors.

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