Amyloid-beta(42) is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Healthy Elderly and Subjective Cognitive Impairment

作者:Rolstad Sindre*; Berg Anne Ingeborg; Bjerke Maria; Blennow Kaj; Johansson Boo; Zetterberg Henrik; Wallin Anders
来源:Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2011, 26(1): 135-142.
DOI:10.3233/JAD-2011-110038

摘要

The aim of this study was to predict cognitive performance on the basis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers total tau (T-tau) and amyloid-beta(42) (A beta(42)) in controls and patients at various impairment levels. Previous studies have found an association of CSF T-tau levels with cognitive symptoms, but it has been difficult to relate A beta to cognition, and it has thus been hypothesized that A beta reaches a plateau level prior to cognitive symptoms. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests was subjected to factor analysis to yield aggregated cognitive domains. Linear regression models were performed for the total sample of the Gothenburg MCI study (n = 435) and for each level of impairment. A beta(42) and T-tau accounted for a significant proportion of performance in all cognitive domains in the total sample. In controls (n = 60) and patients with subjective cognitive impairment (n = 105), A beta(42) predicted a significant proportion of semantic and working memory performance. For patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 170), T-tau had the most pronounced impact across cognitive domains, and more specifically on episodic memory, visuospatial, and speed/executive performance. For patients with dementia (n = 100), the most pronounced impacts of A beta(42) were found in episodic memory and visuospatial functioning, while T-tau was substantially associated with episodic memory. Our results suggest that cognition is related to CSF biomarkers regardless of impairment level. A beta(42) is associated with cognitive functions from a potentially early to a later disease phase, and T-tau is more indicative of performance in a later disease phase.