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Xhima K, Ottoy J, Gibson E, Zukotynski K, Scott C, Feliciano GJ, Adamo S, Kuo PH, Borrie MJ, Chertkow H, Frayne R, Laforce R, Noseworthy MD, Prato FS, Sahlas DJ, Smith EE, Sossi V, Thiel A, Soucy J, Tardif J, Goubran M, Black SE, Ramirez J. Distinct spatial contributions of amyloid pathology and cerebral small vessel disease to hippocampal morphology. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3687-3695. [PMID: 38574400 PMCID: PMC11095424 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology frequently co-exist. The impact of concurrent pathology on the pattern of hippocampal atrophy, a key substrate of memory impacted early and extensively in dementia, remains poorly understood. METHODS In a unique cohort of mixed Alzheimer's disease and moderate-severe SVD, we examined whether total and regional neuroimaging measures of SVD, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and Aβ, as assessed by 18F-AV45 positron emission tomography, exert additive or synergistic effects on hippocampal volume and shape. RESULTS Frontal WMH, occipital WMH, and Aβ were independently associated with smaller hippocampal volume. Frontal WMH had a spatially distinct impact on hippocampal shape relative to Aβ. In contrast, hippocampal shape alterations associated with occipital WMH spatially overlapped with Aβ-vulnerable subregions. DISCUSSION Hippocampal degeneration is differentially sensitive to SVD and Aβ pathology. The pattern of hippocampal atrophy could serve as a disease-specific biomarker, and thus guide clinical diagnosis and individualized treatment strategies for mixed dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiana Xhima
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Julie Ottoy
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Erin Gibson
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Katherine Zukotynski
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Departments of Medicine and RadiologyMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
- Department of Medical ImagingSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Christopher Scott
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Ginelle J. Feliciano
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Sabrina Adamo
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Phillip H. Kuo
- Departments of Medical Imaging, Medicine, Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
| | - Michael J. Borrie
- Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Howard Chertkow
- Rotman Research InstituteBaycrest Health SciencesTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Richard Frayne
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical NeuroscienceHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Robert Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, Département des Sciences NeurologiquesUniversité Laval, Quebec CityQuebecCanada
| | - Michael D. Noseworthy
- Departments of Medicine and RadiologyMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
| | - Frank S. Prato
- Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
| | | | - Eric E. Smith
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Hotchkiss Brain InstituteUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Vesna Sossi
- Physics and Astronomy Department and DM Center for Brain HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Alexander Thiel
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Jean‐Paul Soucy
- Montreal Neurological InstituteMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | | | - Maged Goubran
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Medical BiophysicsUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research InstituteUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Sandra E. Black
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Division of NeurologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Joel Ramirez
- Dr. Sandra E. Black Centre for Brain Resilience and RecoveryLC Campbell Cognitive Neurology, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
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Morales CD, Cotton-Samuel D, Lao PJ, Chang JF, Pyne JD, Alshikho MJ, Lippert RV, Bista K, Hale C, Edwards NC, Igwe KC, Deters K, Zimmerman ME, Brickman AM. Small vessel cerebrovascular disease is associated with cognition in prospective Alzheimer's clinical trial participants. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:25. [PMID: 38308344 PMCID: PMC10836014 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01395-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secondary prevention clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) target amyloid accumulation in asymptomatic, amyloid-positive individuals, but it is unclear to what extent other pathophysiological processes, such as small vessel cerebrovascular disease, account for participant performance on the primary cognitive outcomes in those trials. White matter hyperintensities are areas of increased signal on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that reflect small vessel cerebrovascular disease. They are associated with cognitive functioning in older adults and with clinical presentation and course of AD, particularly when distributed in posterior brain regions. The purpose of this study was to examine to what degree regional WMH volume is associated with performance on the primary cognitive outcome measure in the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (A4) study, a secondary prevention trial. METHODS Data from 1791 participants (59.5% women, mean age (SD) 71.6 (4.74)) in the A4 study and the Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration (LEARN) companion study at the screening visit were used to quantify WMH volumes on T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR images. Cognition was assessed with the preclinical Alzheimer cognitive composite (PACC). We tested the association of total and regional WMH volumes with PACC performance, adjusting for age, education, and amyloid positivity status, with general linear models. We also considered interactions between WMH and amyloid positivity status. RESULTS Increased frontal and parietal lobe WMH volume was associated with poorer performance on the PACC. While amyloid positivity was also associated with lower cognitive test scores, WMH volumes did not interact with amyloid positivity status. CONCLUSION These results highlight the potential of small vessel cerebrovascular disease to drive AD-related cognitive profiles. Measures of small vessel cerebrovascular disease should be considered when evaluating outcome in trials, both as potential effect modifiers and as a possible target for intervention or prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa D Morales
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Dejania Cotton-Samuel
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Patrick J Lao
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Julia F Chang
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Pyne
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mohamad J Alshikho
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Rafael V Lippert
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Kelsang Bista
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Christiane Hale
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Natalie C Edwards
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Kay C Igwe
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Kacie Deters
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Adam M Brickman
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Edwards NC, Lao PJ, Alshikho MJ, Ericsson OM, Rizvi B, Petersen ME, O’Bryant S, Flores-Aguilar L, Simoes S, Mapstone M, Tudorascu DL, Janelidze S, Hansson O, Handen BL, Christian BT, Lee JH, Lai F, Rosas HD, Zaman S, Lott IT, Yassa MA, Gutierrez J, Wilcock DM, Head E, Brickman AM. Cerebrovascular disease drives Alzheimer plasma biomarker concentrations in adults with Down syndrome. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.28.23298693. [PMID: 38076904 PMCID: PMC10705616 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.23298693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Importance By age 40 years over 90% of adults with Down syndrome (DS) have Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and most progress to dementia. Despite having few systemic vascular risk factors, individuals with DS have elevated cerebrovascular disease (CVD) markers that track with the clinical progression of AD, suggesting a role for CVD that is hypothesized to be mediated by inflammatory factors. Objective To examine the pathways through which small vessel CVD contributes to AD-related pathophysiology and neurodegeneration in adults with DS. Design Cross sectional analysis of neuroimaging, plasma, and clinical data. Setting Participants were enrolled in Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium - Down Syndrome (ABC-DS), a multisite study of AD in adults with DS. Participants One hundred eighty-five participants (mean [SD] age=45.2 [9.3] years) with available MRI and plasma biomarker data were included. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes were derived from T2-weighted FLAIR MRI scans and plasma biomarker concentrations of amyloid beta (Aβ42/Aβ40), phosphorylated tau (p-tau217), astrocytosis (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP), and neurodegeneration (neurofilament light chain, NfL) were measured with ultrasensitive immunoassays. Main Outcomes and Measures We examined the bivariate relationships of WMH, Aβ42/Aβ40, p-tau217, and GFAP with age-residualized NfL across AD diagnostic groups. A series of mediation and path analyses examined causal pathways linking WMH and AD pathophysiology to promote neurodegeneration in the total sample and groups stratified by clinical diagnosis. Results There was a direct and indirect bidirectional effect through GFAP of WMH on p-tau217 concentration, which was associated with NfL concentration in the entire sample. Among cognitively stable participants, WMH was directly and indirectly, through GFAP, associated with p-tau217 concentration, and in those with MCI, there was a direct effect of WMH on p-tau217 and NfL concentrations. There were no associations of WMH with biomarker concentrations among those diagnosed with dementia. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that among individuals with DS, CVD promotes neurodegeneration by increasing astrocytosis and tau pathophysiology in the presymptomatic phases of AD. This work joins an emerging literature that implicates CVD and its interface with neuroinflammation as a core pathological feature of AD in adults with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C. Edwards
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Patrick J. Lao
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Mohamad J. Alshikho
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Olivia M. Ericsson
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Batool Rizvi
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Sid O’Bryant
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Lisi Flores-Aguilar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sabrina Simoes
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Mark Mapstone
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Dana L. Tudorascu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shorena Janelidze
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | | | | | - Joseph H. Lee
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Florence Lai
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - H Diana Rosas
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Center for Neuroimaging of Aging and neurodegenerative Diseases, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Shahid Zaman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ira T. Lott
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Michael A. Yassa
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - José Gutierrez
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Donna M. Wilcock
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Adam M. Brickman
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA
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