Change on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status and its relationship to brain amyloid

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) has been associated with commonly used biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including brain amyloid plaque density. However, less is known about if changes in the RBANS across time are also related to brain amyloid deposition. The current study sought to expand on prior work by examining the relationship between changes over time on the RBANS and amyloid deposition via positron emission tomography (PET).MethodOne‐hundred twenty‐six older adults with intact or impaired cognition and daily functioning underwent repeat assessment with the RBANS across nearly 16 months, as well as had a baseline amyloid PET scan.ResultIn the entire sample, amyloid deposition was significantly related to change on all five Indexes and the Total Scale score of the RBANS (rs = ‐0.28 – ‐0.61), with greater amyloid deposition being associated with worsening cognition. This pattern was also observed in 11 of 12 subtests. In the intact individuals, this pattern was only observed on change in the Immediate Memory Index (r = ‐0.32). In the subjects with MCI, this pattern was only observed on change in the Delayed Memory Index (r = ‐0.35). There was no association between change on the RBANS and brain amyloid deposition in those with AD.ConclusionWhereas prior studies have identified a relationship between baseline RBANS and amyloid status, the current findings support that changes in the RBANS are also indicative of AD brain pathology. Although replication in a more diverse sample is needed, these results continue to support the use of the RBANS in AD clinical trials.