Abstract
We aimed to assess the association between core cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, regional brain atrophy and clinical severity in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum, as well as to investigate how cognitive reserve (CR) may modulate these putative associations. Forty-nine subjects (11 controls, 10 patients with subjective memory complaints, 19 with mild cognitive impairment and 9 mild AD) underwent lumbar puncture and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CSF amyloid-β 1–42 (Aβ 1–42), total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau 181) were determined. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was applied and multiple regression analyses for the whole sample were carried out. Clinical severity was adjusted using the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes score (CDR-SB). A negative correlation between t-tau levels and grey matter (GM) volume in temporo-parietal regions was found, regardless of CDR-SB score. In contrast, the negative correlation between p-tau 181 and GM volume was largely explained by clinical severity, except in the posterior cingulate cortex. CR did not significantly modify these correlations. Aβ 1–42 levels were not related to GM volume but were related to clinical severity, an association that was attenuated when CR was considered. In conclusion, the present findings reflect that t-tau CSF concentrations are associated with GM atrophy in neuropathologically relevant areas across the AD continuum, whereas the p-tau 181 association is largely dependent on the degree of clinical severity. The relationship between CSF Aβ 1–42 and clinical severity seems to be modulated by CR, suggesting that there may be subjects with pathological levels of Aβ 1–42 and high CR estimates who remain clinically asymptomatic.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.