Work

Cognitive indicators of transition to preclinical and prodromal stages of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: There is a critical need to identify measures of cognitive functioning sensitive to early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology in Down syndrome to advance clinical trial research in this at-risk population. The objective of the study was to longitudinally track performance on cognitive measures in relation to neocortical and striatal amyloid beta (Aβ) in non-demented Down syndrome. METHODS: The study included 118 non-demented adults with Down syndrome who participated in two to five points of data collection, spanning 1.5 to 8 years. Episodic memory, visual attention and executive functioning, and motor planning and coordination were assessed. Aβ was measured via [C-11] Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB) PET. RESULTS: PiB was associated with level and rate of decline in cognitive performance in episodic memory, visual attention, executive functioning, and visuospatial ability in models controlling for chronological age. DISCUSSION: The Cued Recall Test emerged as a promising indicator of transition from preclinical to prodromal AD.

Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring

DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12096