Abstract: Objective:To investigate the changes of gray matter density of native patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI)at high altitude by structural magnetic resonance imaging(sMRI).Materials and Methods:Ninety-one native MCI patients at high altitude(MCI group)and 95 native healthy controls(HC)matched for age,gender and education(HC group)were collected for neuropsychological testing and three-dimensional T1WI magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo sequence(3D-T1WI-MPRAGE)imaging.Gray matter density was measured in different whole-brain zones using voxel morphometric measurement(VBM)to compare brain regions with significant differences in gray matter density.Results:MCI group had significantly lower gray matter density in the left hippocampus,left parahippocampal gyrus,left fusiform gyrus,and bilateral cerebellar than HC group(all P<0.05).Conclusions:There are sMRI changes of brain in MCI patients at high altitude,this may be the structural basis for the changes in cognitive functions associated with chronic high-altitude exposure.