Researchers at the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute found that greater atrophy in specific brain regions was associated with faster progression.
The findings could eventually help patients, families and clinicians plan future care more effectively.
The researchers analyzed data from 130 people aged 40 to 64 with mild cognitive impairment caused by early-onset Alzheimer's disease. They also included 97 cognitively healthy people of similar ages.
MRI scans taken at the beginning of the study revealed a relationship between brain atrophy and the speed of progression.
The researchers incorporated the MRI measurement into a model that already considered age, sex and performance on a baseline cognitive test.
Adding brain atrophy improved the model's ability to predict the risk of progression to dementia.
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