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Baumeister H, Vogel JW, Insel PS, Kleineidam L, Wolfsgruber S, Stark M, Gellersen HM, Yakupov R, Schmid MC, Lüsebrink F, Brosseron F, Ziegler G, Freiesleben SD, Preis L, Schneider LS, Spruth EJ, Altenstein S, Lohse A, Fliessbach K, Vogt IR, Bartels C, Schott BH, Rostamzadeh A, Glanz W, Incesoy EI, Butryn M, Janowitz D, Rauchmann BS, Kilimann I, Goerss D, Munk MH, Hetzer S, Dechent P, Ewers M, Scheffler K, Wuestefeld A, Strandberg O, van Westen D, Mattsson-Carlgren N, Janelidze S, Stomrud E, Palmqvist S, Spottke A, Laske C, Teipel S, Perneczky R, Buerger K, Schneider A, Priller J, Peters O, Ramirez A, Wiltfang J, Heneka MT, Wagner M, Düzel E, Jessen F, Hansson O, Berron D. A generalizable data-driven model of atrophy heterogeneity and progression in memory clinic settings. Brain 2024; 147:2400-2413. [PMID: 38654513 PMCID: PMC11224599 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae118] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Memory clinic patients are a heterogeneous population representing various aetiologies of pathological ageing. It is not known whether divergent spatiotemporal progression patterns of brain atrophy, as previously described in Alzheimer's disease patients, are prevalent and clinically meaningful in this group of older adults. To uncover distinct atrophy subtypes, we applied the Subtype and Stage Inference (SuStaIn) algorithm to baseline structural MRI data from 813 participants enrolled in the DELCODE cohort (mean ± standard deviation, age = 70.67 ± 6.07 years, 52% females). Participants were cognitively unimpaired (n = 285) or fulfilled diagnostic criteria for subjective cognitive decline (n = 342), mild cognitive impairment (n = 118) or dementia of the Alzheimer's type (n = 68). Atrophy subtypes were compared in baseline demographics, fluid Alzheimer's disease biomarker levels, the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC-5) as well as episodic memory and executive functioning. PACC-5 trajectories over up to 240 weeks were examined. To test whether baseline atrophy subtype and stage predicted clinical trajectories before manifest cognitive impairment, we analysed PACC-5 trajectories and mild cognitive impairment conversion rates of cognitively unimpaired participants and those with subjective cognitive decline. Limbic-predominant and hippocampal-sparing atrophy subtypes were identified. Limbic-predominant atrophy initially affected the medial temporal lobes, followed by further temporal regions and, finally, the remaining cortical regions. At baseline, this subtype was related to older age, more pathological Alzheimer's disease biomarker levels, APOE ε4 carriership and an amnestic cognitive impairment. Hippocampal-sparing atrophy initially occurred outside the temporal lobe, with the medial temporal lobe spared up to advanced atrophy stages. This atrophy pattern also affected individuals with positive Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and was associated with more generalized cognitive impairment. Limbic-predominant atrophy, in all participants and in only unimpaired participants, was linked to more negative longitudinal PACC-5 slopes than observed in participants without or with hippocampal-sparing atrophy and increased the risk of mild cognitive impairment conversion. SuStaIn modelling was repeated in a sample from the Swedish BioFINDER-2 cohort. Highly similar atrophy progression patterns and associated cognitive profiles were identified. Cross-cohort model generalizability, at both the subject and the group level, was excellent, indicating reliable performance in previously unseen data. The proposed model is a promising tool for capturing heterogeneity among older adults at early at-risk states for Alzheimer's disease in applied settings. The implementation of atrophy subtype- and stage-specific end points might increase the statistical power of pharmacological trials targeting early Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Baumeister
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jacob W Vogel
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
| | - Philip S Insel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Luca Kleineidam
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffen Wolfsgruber
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Melina Stark
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Helena M Gellersen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Renat Yakupov
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthias C Schmid
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Medical Biometry, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Falk Lüsebrink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Frederic Brosseron
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Gabriel Ziegler
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Silka D Freiesleben
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lukas Preis
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Luisa-Sophie Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eike J Spruth
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Slawek Altenstein
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Lohse
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Fliessbach
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ina R Vogt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Claudia Bartels
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Björn H Schott
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ayda Rostamzadeh
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Wenzel Glanz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Enise I Incesoy
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Butryn
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Janowitz
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Boris-Stephan Rauchmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
- Department of Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Ingo Kilimann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Doreen Goerss
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Matthias H Munk
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Hetzer
- Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Dechent
- MR-Research in Neurosciences, Department of Cognitive Neurology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Ewers
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- Department for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anika Wuestefeld
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
| | - Olof Strandberg
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
| | - Danielle van Westen
- Diagnostic Radiology, Institution of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, 211 84 Lund, Sweden
- Image and Function, Skåne University Hospital, 211 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, 211 84 Lund, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Shorena Janelidze
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Palmqvist
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Annika Spottke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christoph Laske
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Section for Dementia Research, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Teipel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Robert Perneczky
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
- Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit (AGE), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Katharina Buerger
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Anja Schneider
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Josef Priller
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh and UK DRI, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Oliver Peters
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alfredo Ramirez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Division of Neurogenetics and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry & Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Michael T Heneka
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4362, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Michael Wagner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Emrah Düzel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Frank Jessen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - David Berron
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
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Berron D, Olsson E, Andersson F, Janelidze S, Tideman P, Düzel E, Palmqvist S, Stomrud E, Hansson O. Remote and unsupervised digital memory assessments can reliably detect cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4775-4791. [PMID: 38867417 PMCID: PMC11247711 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13919] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Remote unsupervised cognitive assessments have the potential to complement and facilitate cognitive assessment in clinical and research settings. METHODS Here, we evaluate the usability, validity, and reliability of unsupervised remote memory assessments via mobile devices in individuals without dementia from the Swedish BioFINDER-2 study and explore their prognostic utility regarding future cognitive decline. RESULTS Usability was rated positively; remote memory assessments showed good construct validity with traditional neuropsychological assessments and were significantly associated with tau-positron emission tomography and downstream magnetic resonance imaging measures. Memory performance at baseline was associated with future cognitive decline and prediction of future cognitive decline was further improved by combining remote digital memory assessments with plasma p-tau217. Finally, retest reliability was moderate for a single assessment and good for an aggregate of two sessions. DISCUSSION Our results demonstrate that unsupervised digital memory assessments might be used for diagnosis and prognosis in Alzheimer's disease, potentially in combination with plasma biomarkers. HIGHLIGHTS Remote and unsupervised digital memory assessments are feasible in older adults and individuals in early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Digital memory assessments are associated with neuropsychological in-clinic assessments, tau-positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging measures. Combination of digital memory assessments with plasma p-tau217 holds promise for prognosis of future cognitive decline. Future validation in further independent, larger, and more diverse cohorts is needed to inform clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Berron
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesMagdeburgGermany
| | - Emil Olsson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
| | | | - Shorena Janelidze
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Pontus Tideman
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
- Memory ClinicSkåne University HospitalMalmöSweden
| | - Emrah Düzel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesMagdeburgGermany
- Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia ResearchOtto‐von‐Guericke UniversityMagdeburgGermany
- Institute of Cognitive NeuroscienceUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Sebastian Palmqvist
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
- Memory ClinicSkåne University HospitalMalmöSweden
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
- Memory ClinicSkåne University HospitalMalmöSweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
- Memory ClinicSkåne University HospitalMalmöSweden
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Vanderlip CR, Stark CE. Digital cognitive assessments as low-burden markers for predicting future cognitive decline and tau accumulation across the Alzheimer's spectrum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.23.595638. [PMID: 38826456 PMCID: PMC11142177 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.23.595638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Digital cognitive assessments, particularly those that can be done at home, present as low burden biomarkers for participants and patients alike, but their effectiveness in diagnosis of Alzheimer's or predicting its trajectory is still unclear. Here, we assessed what utility or added value these digital cognitive assessments provide for identifying those at high risk for cognitive decline. We analyzed >500 ADNI participants who underwent a brief digital cognitive assessment and Aβ/tau PET scans, examining their ability to distinguish cognitive status and predict cognitive decline. Performance on the digital cognitive assessment were superior to both cortical Aβ and entorhinal tau in detecting mild cognitive impairment and future cognitive decline, with mnemonic discrimination deficits emerging as the most critical measure for predicting decline and future tau accumulation. Digital assessments are effective in identifying at-risk individuals, supporting their utility as low-burden tools for early Alzheimer's detection and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey R. Vanderlip
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, 1424 Biological Sciences III Irvine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697 USA
| | - Craig E.L. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, 1424 Biological Sciences III Irvine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697 USA
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Vanderlip C, Lee MD, Stark CE. Cognitive modeling of the Mnemonic Similarity Task as a digital biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.07.584012. [PMID: 38559159 PMCID: PMC10979889 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.07.584012] [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: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
AD related pathologies, such as beta-amyloid (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (pTau), are evident decades before any noticeable decline in memory occurs. Identifying individuals during this asymptomatic phase is crucial for timely intervention. The Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST), a modified recognition memory task, is especially relevant for early AD screening, as it assesses hippocampal integrity, a region affected (both directly and indirectly) early in the progression of the disease. Further, strong inferences on the underlying cognitive mechanisms that support performance on this task can be made using Bayesian cognitive modeling. We assessed whether analyzing MST performance using a cognitive model could detect subtle changes in cognitive function and AD biomarker status prior to overt cognitive decline. We analyzed MST data from >200 individuals (young, cognitively healthy older adults, and individuals with MCI), a subset of which also had existing CSF Aβ and pTau data. Traditional performance scores and cognitive modeling using multinomial processing trees was applied to each participants MST data using Bayesian approaches. We assessed how well each could predict age group, memory ability, MCI status, Aβ/pTau status using ROC analyses. Both approaches predicted age group membership equally, but cognitive modeling approaches exceeded traditional metrics in all other comparisons. This work establishes that cognitive modeling of the MST can detect individuals with AD prior to cognitive decline, making it a potentially useful tool for both screening and monitoring older adults during the asymptomatic phase of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Vanderlip
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine
| | - Michael D. Lee
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - Craig E.L. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine
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Papp KV, Jutten RJ, Soberanes D, Weizenbaum E, Hsieh S, Molinare C, Buckley R, Betensky RA, Marshall GA, Johnson KA, Rentz DM, Sperling R, Amariglio RE. Early Detection of Amyloid-Related Changes in Memory among Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults with Daily Digital Testing. Ann Neurol 2024; 95:507-517. [PMID: 37991080 PMCID: PMC10922126 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine whether assessing learning over days reveals Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker-related declines in memory consolidation that are otherwise undetectable with single time point assessments. METHODS Thirty-six (21.9%) cognitively unimpaired older adults (aged 60-91 years) were classified with elevated β-amyloid (Aβ+) and 128 (78%) were Aβ- using positron emission tomography with 11C Pittsburgh compound B. Participants completed the multiday Boston Remote Assessment for Neurocognitive Health (BRANCH) for 12 min/day on personal devices (ie, smartphones, laptops), which captures the trajectory of daily learning of the same content on 3 repeated tests (Digit Signs, Groceries-Prices, Face-Name). Learning is computed as a composite of accuracy across all 3 measures. Participants also completed standard in-clinic cognitive tests as part of the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite (PACC-5), with 123 participants undergoing PACC-5 follow-up after 1.07 (standard deviation = 0.25) years. RESULTS At the cross-section, there were no statistically significant differences in performance between Aβ+/- participants on any standard in-clinic cognitive tests (eg, PACC-5) or on day 1 of multiday BRANCH. Aβ+ participants exhibited diminished 7-day learning curves on multiday BRANCH after 4 days of testing relative to Aβ- participants (Cohen d = 0.49, 95% confidence interval = 0.10-0.87). Diminished learning curves were associated with greater annual PACC-5 decline (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION Very early Aβ-related memory declines can be revealed by assessing learning over days, suggesting that failures in memory consolidation predate other conventional amnestic deficits in AD. Repeated digital memory assessments, increasingly feasible and uniquely able to assess memory consolidation over short time periods, have the potential to be transformative for detecting the earliest cognitive changes in preclinical AD. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:507-517.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn V. Papp
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Roos J. Jutten
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Daniel Soberanes
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Emma Weizenbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129
| | - Stephanie Hsieh
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Cassidy Molinare
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Rachel Buckley
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Rebecca A. Betensky
- Department of Biostatistics, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, 10003
| | - Gad A. Marshall
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Keith A Johnson
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Dorene M. Rentz
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Reisa Sperling
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
| | - Rebecca E. Amariglio
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
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Weizenbaum EL, Soberanes D, Hsieh S, Molinare CP, Buckley RF, Betensky RA, Properzi MJ, Marshall GA, Rentz DM, Johnson KA, Sperling RA, Amariglio RE, Papp KV. Capturing learning curves with the multiday Boston Remote Assessment of Neurocognitive Health (BRANCH): Feasibility, reliability, and validity. Neuropsychology 2024; 38:198-210. [PMID: 37971862 PMCID: PMC10841660 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Unsupervised remote digital cognitive assessment makes frequent testing feasible and allows for measurement of learning over repeated evaluations on participants' own devices. This provides the opportunity to derive individual multiday learning curve scores over short intervals. Here, we report feasibility, reliability, and validity, of a 7-day cognitive battery from the Boston Remote Assessment for Neurocognitive Health (Multiday BRANCH), an unsupervised web-based assessment. METHOD Multiday BRANCH was administered remotely to 181 cognitively unimpaired older adults using their own electronic devices. For 7 consecutive days, participants completed three tests with associative memory components (Face-Name, Groceries-Prices, Digit Signs), using the same stimuli, to capture multiday learning curves for each test. We assessed the feasibility of capturing learning curves across the 7 days. Additionally, we examined the reliability and associations of learning curves with demographics, and traditional cognitive and subjective report measures. RESULTS Multiday BRANCH was feasible with 96% of participants completing all study assessments; there were no differences dependent on type of device used (t = 0.71, p = .48) or time of day completed (t = -0.08, p = .94). Psychometric properties of the learning curves were sound including good test-retest reliability of individuals' curves (intraclass correlation = 0.94). Learning curves were positively correlated with in-person cognitive tests and subjective report of cognitive complaints. CONCLUSIONS Multiday BRANCH is a feasible, reliable, and valid cognitive measure that may be useful for identifying subtle changes in learning and memory processes in older adults. In the future, we will determine whether Multiday BRANCH is predictive of the presence of preclinical Alzheimer's disease. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Weizenbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Daniel Soberanes
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Stephanie Hsieh
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Cassidy P Molinare
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Rachel F Buckley
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Rebecca A Betensky
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Global Public Health, New York University
| | - Michael J Properzi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Gad A Marshall
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Dorene M Rentz
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Keith A Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Rebecca E Amariglio
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Kathryn V Papp
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
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Dubbelman MA, Hendriksen HMA, Harrison JE, Vijverberg EGB, Prins ND, Kroeze LA, Ottenhoff L, Van Leeuwenstijn MMSSA, Verberk IMW, Teunissen CE, van de Giessen EM, Van Harten AC, Van Der Flier WM, Sikkes SAM. Cognitive and Functional Change Over Time in Cognitively Healthy Individuals According to Alzheimer Disease Biomarker-Defined Subgroups. Neurology 2024; 102:e207978. [PMID: 38165338 PMCID: PMC10962908 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES It is unclear to what extent cognitive outcome measures are sensitive to capture decline in Alzheimer disease (AD) prevention trials. We aimed to analyze the sensitivity to changes over time of a range of neuropsychological tests in several cognitively unimpaired, biomarker-defined patient groups. METHODS Cognitively unimpaired individuals from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort and the SCIENCe project with available AD biomarkers, obtained from CSF, PET scans, and plasma at baseline, were followed over time (4.5 ± 3.1 years, range 0.6-18.9 years). Based on common inclusion criteria for clinical trials, we defined groups (amyloid, phosphorylated tau [p-tau], APOE ε4). Linear mixed models, adjusted for age, sex, and education, were used to estimate change over time in neuropsychological tests, a functional outcome, and 2 cognitive composite measures. Standardized regression coefficients of time in years (βtime) were reported as outcome of interest. We analyzed change over time with full follow-up, as well as with follow-up limited to 1.5 and 3 years. RESULTS We included 387 individuals (aged 61.7 ± 8.6 years; 44% female) in the following (partly overlapping) biomarker groups: APOE ε4 carriers (n = 212), amyloid-positive individuals (n = 109), amyloid-positive APOE ε4 carriers (n = 66), CSF p-tau-positive individuals (n = 127), plasma p-tau-positive individuals (n = 71), and amyloid and CSF p-tau-positive individuals (n = 50), or in a control group (normal biomarkers; n = 65). An executive functioning task showed most decline in all biomarker groups (βtime range -0.30 to -0.71), followed by delayed word list recognition (βtime range -0.18 to -0.50). Functional decline (βtime range -0.17 to -0.63) was observed in all, except the CSF and plasma tau-positive groups. Both composites showed comparable amounts of change (βtime range -0.12 to -0.62) in all groups, except plasma p-tau-positive individuals. When limiting original follow-up duration, many effects disappeared or even flipped direction. DISCUSSION In conclusion, functional, composite, and neuropsychological outcome measures across all cognitive domains detect changes over time in various biomarker-defined groups, with changes being most evident among individuals with more AD pathology. AD prevention trials should use sufficiently long follow-up duration and/or more sensitive outcome measures to optimally capture subtle cognitive changes over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Dubbelman
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Heleen M A Hendriksen
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - John E Harrison
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Everard G B Vijverberg
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Niels D Prins
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lior A Kroeze
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lois Ottenhoff
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mardou M S S A Van Leeuwenstijn
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Inge M W Verberk
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elsmarieke M van de Giessen
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Argonde C Van Harten
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wiesje M Van Der Flier
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sietske A M Sikkes
- From the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology (M.A.D., H.M.A.H., J.E.H., E.G.B.V., L.A.K., L.O., M.M.S.S.A.V.L., I.M.W.V., C.E.T., A.C.V.H., W.M.V.D.F., S.A.M.S.), and Departments of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine (E.M.v.d.G.), Epidemiology & Data Science (W.M.V.D.F.), and Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine (I.M.W.V., C.E.T.), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam Neuroscience; Brain Research Center (N.D.P., L.O.); and Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology (S.A.M.S.), Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Woods D, Pebler P, Johnson DK, Herron T, Hall K, Blank M, Geraci K, Williams G, Chok J, Lwi S, Curran B, Schendel K, Spinelli M, Baldo J. The California Cognitive Assessment Battery (CCAB). Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 17:1305529. [PMID: 38273881 PMCID: PMC10809797 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1305529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction We are developing the California Cognitive Assessment Battery (CCAB) to provide neuropsychological assessments to patients who lack test access due to cost, capacity, mobility, and transportation barriers. Methods The CCAB consists of 15 non-verbal and 17 verbal subtests normed for telemedical assessment. The CCAB runs on calibrated tablet computers over cellular or Wi-Fi connections either in a laboratory or in participants' homes. Spoken instructions and verbal stimuli are delivered through headphones using naturalistic text-to-speech voices. Verbal responses are scored in real time and recorded and transcribed offline using consensus automatic speech recognition which combines the transcripts from seven commercial ASR engines to produce timestamped transcripts more accurate than those of any single ASR engine. The CCAB is designed for supervised self-administration using a web-browser application, the Examiner. The Examiner permits examiners to record observations, view subtest performance in real time, initiate video chats, and correct potential error conditions (e.g., training and performance failures, etc.,) for multiple participants concurrently. Results Here we describe (1) CCAB usability with older (ages 50 to 89) participants; (2) CCAB psychometric properties based on normative data from 415 older participants; (3) Comparisons of the results of at-home vs. in-lab CCAB testing; (4) We also present preliminary analyses of the effects of COVID-19 infection on performance. Mean z-scores averaged over CCAB subtests showed impaired performance of COVID+ compared to COVID- participants after factoring out the contributions of Age, Education, and Gender (AEG). However, inter-cohort differences were no longer significant when performance was analyzed with a comprehensive model that factored out the influences of additional pre-existing demographic factors that distinguished COVID+ and COVID- cohorts (e.g., vocabulary, depression, race, etc.,). In contrast, unlike AEG scores, comprehensive scores correlated significantly with the severity of COVID infection. (5) Finally, we found that scoring models influenced the classification of individual participants with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI, z-scores < -1.50) where the comprehensive model accounted for more than twice as much variance as the AEG model and reduced racial bias in MCI classification. Discussion The CCAB holds the promise of providing scalable laboratory-quality neurodiagnostic assessments to underserved urban, exurban, and rural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Woods
- NeuroBehavioral Systems Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Peter Pebler
- NeuroBehavioral Systems Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - David K Johnson
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Timothy Herron
- NeuroBehavioral Systems Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
| | - Kat Hall
- NeuroBehavioral Systems Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Mike Blank
- NeuroBehavioral Systems Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Kristi Geraci
- NeuroBehavioral Systems Inc., Berkeley, CA, United States
| | | | - Jas Chok
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
| | - Sandy Lwi
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
| | - Brian Curran
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
| | - Krista Schendel
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
| | - Maria Spinelli
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
| | - Juliana Baldo
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, CA, United States
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Burnham SC, Iaccarino L, Pontecorvo MJ, Fleisher AS, Lu M, Collins EC, Devous MD. A review of the flortaucipir literature for positron emission tomography imaging of tau neurofibrillary tangles. Brain Commun 2023; 6:fcad305. [PMID: 38187878 PMCID: PMC10768888 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is defined by the presence of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles potentially preceding clinical symptoms by many years. Previously only detectable post-mortem, these pathological hallmarks are now identifiable using biomarkers, permitting an in vivo definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. 18F-flortaucipir (previously known as 18F-T807; 18F-AV-1451) was the first tau positron emission tomography tracer to be introduced and is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved tau positron emission tomography tracer (Tauvid™). It has been widely adopted and validated in a number of independent research and clinical settings. In this review, we present an overview of the published literature on flortaucipir for positron emission tomography imaging of neurofibrillary tau tangles. We considered all accessible peer-reviewed literature pertaining to flortaucipir through 30 April 2022. We found 474 relevant peer-reviewed publications, which were organized into the following categories based on their primary focus: typical Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment and pre-symptomatic populations; atypical Alzheimer's disease; non-Alzheimer's disease neurodegenerative conditions; head-to-head comparisons with other Tau positron emission tomography tracers; and technical considerations. The available flortaucipir literature provides substantial evidence for the use of this positron emission tomography tracer in assessing neurofibrillary tau tangles in Alzheimer's disease and limited support for its use in other neurodegenerative disorders. Visual interpretation and quantitation approaches, although heterogeneous, mostly converge and demonstrate the high diagnostic and prognostic value of flortaucipir in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ming Lu
- Avid, Eli Lilly and Company, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Smith V, Younes K, Poston KL, Mormino EC, Young CB. Reliability of remote National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set data. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12498. [PMID: 38034852 PMCID: PMC10687343 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set (UDS) neuropsychological battery is being used to track cognition in participants across the country, but it is unknown if scores obtained through remote administration can be combined with data obtained in person. METHODS The remote UDS battery includes the blind version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Number Span, Semantic and Phonemic Fluency, and Craft Story. For these tests, we assessed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between in-person and remote scores in 3838 participants with both in-person and remote UDS assessments, and we compared annual score changes between modalities in a subset that had two remote assessments. RESULTS All tests exhibited moderate to good reliability between modalities (ICCs = 0.590-0.787). Annual score changes were also comparable between modalities except for Craft Story Immediate Recall, Semantic Fluency, and Phonemic Fluency. DISCUSSION Our findings generally support combining remote and in-person scores for the majority of UDS tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktorija Smith
- Department of Neurology and Neurological SciencesStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kyan Younes
- Department of Neurology and Neurological SciencesStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kathleen L. Poston
- Department of Neurology and Neurological SciencesStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth C. Mormino
- Department of Neurology and Neurological SciencesStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Christina B. Young
- Department of Neurology and Neurological SciencesStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
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Dubbelman MA, Hall TC, Levesque IM, Mimmack KJ, Sikkes SAM, Fischer SH, Rentz DM, Sperling RA, Papp KV, Amariglio RE, Marshall GA. Using a digital tool to detect early changes in everyday functioning in older adults: A pilot study of the Assessment of Smartphone Everyday Tasks (ASSET). ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12506. [PMID: 38111596 PMCID: PMC10725838 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To investigate the utility of a new digital tool for measuring everyday functioning in preclinical Alzheimer's disease, we piloted the Assessment of Smartphone Everyday Tasks (ASSET) application. METHODS Forty-six participants (50.3 ± 27.1 years; 67% female; 20 young unimpaired, 17 old unimpaired, 9 mildly cognitively impaired) completed ASSET 7 times. ASSET comprises two main tasks, simulating a Patient Portal and a Calendar. We assessed ASSET's internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and user experience. RESULTS ASSET main tasks correlated with each other (r = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.58, 0.86]). Performance on ASSET's Patient Portal related to cognition (r = 0.64, 95% CI = [0.42, 0.79]) and observer ratings of everyday functioning (r = 0.57, 95% CI = [0.24, 0.79]). Test-retest reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.87, 95% CI = [0.77, 0.93]). Most participants rated their experience with ASSET neutrally or positively. DISCUSSION ASSET is a promising smartphone-based digital assessment of everyday functioning. Future studies may investigate its utility for early diagnosis and evaluation of treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Dubbelman
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Tia C. Hall
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Isabella M. Levesque
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Kayden J. Mimmack
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sietske A. M. Sikkes
- Department of NeurologyAlzheimer Center AmsterdamVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Faculty of Behavioral and Movement SciencesClinical Developmental Psychology and Clinical NeuropsychologyVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - Dorene M. Rentz
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Reisa A. Sperling
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Kathryn V. Papp
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Rebecca E. Amariglio
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Gad A. Marshall
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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12
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Lee MD, Stark CE. Bayesian Modeling of the Mnemonic Similarity Task Using Multinomial Processing Trees. BEHAVIORMETRIKA 2023; 50:517-539. [PMID: 38481469 PMCID: PMC10936565 DOI: 10.1007/s41237-023-00193-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST: Stark et al., 2019) is a modified recognition memory task designed to place strong demand on pattern separation. The sensitivity and reliability of the MST make it an extremely valuable tool in clinical settings. We develop new cognitive models, based on the multinomial processing tree framework, for two versions of the MST. The models are implemented as generative probabilistic models and applied to behavioral data using Bayesian graphical modeling methods. We demonstrate how the combination of cognitive modeling and Bayesian methods allows for flexible and powerful inferences about performance on the MST. These demonstrations include latent-mixture extensions for identifying individual differences in decision strategies, and hierarchical extensions that measure fine-grained differences in the ability to detect lures. One key finding is that the availability of a "similar" response in the MST reduces individual differences in decision strategies and allows for more direct measurement of recognition memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Lee
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine
| | - Craig E.L. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine
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13
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Reed C, Calamia M, Sanderson-Cimino M, DeVito A, Toups R, Keller J. Four year practice effects on the RBANS in a longitudinal study of older adults. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2023:1-7. [PMID: 36877817 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2180361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a widely used measure in neuropsychological assessment. Studies of practice effects on the RBANS have typically been assessed over one or two repeated assessments. The aim of the current study is to examine practice effects across four-years after baseline in a longitudinal study of cognitively healthy older adults. METHOD 453 Participants from the Louisiana Aging Brain Study (LABrainS) completed the RBANS Form A on up to four annual assessments after baseline. Practice effects were calculated using a modified participants-replacement method where scores of returnees are compared to the baseline scores of matched participants with additional adjustment for attrition effects. RESULTS Practice effects were observed primarily in the immediate memory, delayed memory, and total score indices. These index scores continued to increase with repeated assessments. CONCLUSIONS These findings extend past work on the RBANS showing the susceptibility of memory measures to practice effects. Given that memory and total score indices of the RBANS have the most robust relationships with pathological cognitive decline, these findings raise concerns about the ability to recruit those at risk for decline from longitudinal studies using the same form of the RBANS for multiple years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Reed
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Matthew Calamia
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alyssa DeVito
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Robert Toups
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Keller
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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14
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Stark CEL, Noche JA, Ebersberger JR, Mayer L, Stark SM. Optimizing the mnemonic similarity task for efficient, widespread use. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1080366. [PMID: 36778130 PMCID: PMC9909607 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1080366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST) has become a popular test of memory and, in particular, of hippocampal function. It has been heavily used in research settings and is currently included as an alternate outcome measure on a number of clinical trials. However, as it typically requires ~15 min to administer and benefits substantially from an experienced test administrator to ensure the instructions are well-understood, its use in trials and in other settings is somewhat restricted. Several different variants of the MST are in common use that alter the task format (study-test vs. continuous) and the response prompt given to participants (old/similar/new vs. old/new). Methods: In eight online experiments, we sought to address three main goals: (1) To determine whether a robust version of the task could be created that could be conducted in half the traditional time; (2) To determine whether the test format or response prompt choice significantly impacted the MST's results; and (3) To determine how robust the MST is to repeat testing. In Experiments 1-7, participants received both the traditional and alternate forms of the MST to determine how well the alternate version captured the traditional task's performance. In Experiment 8, participants were given the MST four times over approximately 4 weeks. Results: In Experiments 1-7, we found that test format had no effect on the reliability of the MST, but that shifting to the two-choice response format significantly reduced its ability to reflect the traditional MST's score. We also found that the full running time could be cut it half or less without appreciable reduction in reliability. We confirmed the efficacy of this reduced task in older adults as well. Here, and in Experiment 8, we found that while there often are no effects of repeat-testing, small effects are possible, but appear limited to the initial testing session. Discussion: The optimized version of the task developed here (oMST) is freely available for web-based experiment delivery and provides an accurate estimate of the same memory ability as the classic MST in less than half the time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig E. L. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jessica A. Noche
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Jarrett R. Ebersberger
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lizabeth Mayer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Shauna M. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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15
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Young CB, Mormino EC, Poston KL, Johnson KA, Rentz DM, Sperling RA, Papp KV. Computerized cognitive practice effects in relation to amyloid and tau in preclinical Alzheimer's disease: Results from a multi-site cohort. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12414. [PMID: 36950699 PMCID: PMC10026103 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
Scalable cognitive paradigms that provide metrics such as the Computerized Cognitive Composite (C3) may be sensitive enough to relate to Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in the preclinical clinically unimpaired (CU) stage. We examined CU older adults (n = 3287) who completed alternate versions of the C3 approximately 51 days apart. A subset of CU with abnormal amyloid also completed tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. C3 initial performance and practice effects were examined in relation to amyloid status and continuous regional tau burden. Initial C3 performance was associated with amyloid status across all participants, and with tau burden in the medial temporal lobe and early cortical regions in CU with abnormal amyloid. Short-term practice effects were associated with reduced tau in these regions in CU with abnormal amyloid, but were not associated with amyloid status. Thus, computerized cognitive testing repeated over a short follow-up period provides additional insights into early Alzheimer's disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina B. Young
- Department of Neurology and Neurological ScienceStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth C. Mormino
- Department of Neurology and Neurological ScienceStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kathleen L. Poston
- Department of Neurology and Neurological ScienceStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Keith A. Johnson
- Center for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentDepartment of NeurologyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Dorene M. Rentz
- Center for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentDepartment of NeurologyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Reisa A. Sperling
- Center for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentDepartment of NeurologyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Kathryn V. Papp
- Center for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentDepartment of NeurologyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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16
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Hinchman CA, Cabral DF, Ciesla M, Flothmann M, Nunez C, Rice J, Loewenstein DA, Kitaigorodsky M, Cahalin LP, Rundek T, Pascual-Leone A, Cattaneo G, Gomes-Osman J. Exercise engagement drives changes in cognition and cardiorespiratory fitness after 8 weeks of aerobic training in sedentary aging adults at risk of cognitive decline. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2022; 3:923141. [PMID: 36189006 PMCID: PMC9397848 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2022.923141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background With our aging population, many individuals are at risk of developing age-related cognitive decline. Physical exercise has been demonstrated to enhance cognitive performance in aging adults. This study examined the effects of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise on cognitive performance and cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary aging adults at risk for cognitive decline. Methods Fifty-two participants (age 62.9 ± 6.8, 76.9% female) engaged in eight weeks of moderate-to high-intensity exercise (19 in-person, 33 remotely). Global cognition was measured by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, and the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Fourth Edition. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured via heart rate recovery at minute 1 (HRR1) and 2 (HRR2), and exercise engagement (defined as percent of total exercise time spent in the prescribed heart rate zone). We measured pre and post changes using paired t-tests and mixed effects models, and investigated the association between cardiorespiratory and cognitive performance using multiple regression models. Cohen's d were calculated to estimate effect sizes. Results Overall, 63.4 % of participants demonstrated high engagement (≥ 70% total exercise time spent in the prescribed heart rate zone). There were significant pre-post improvements in verbal fluency and verbal memory, and a significant decrement in working memory, but these were associated with small effect sizes (Cohen's d <0.5). Concerning cardiorespiratory fitness, there was a pre-to-post significant improvement in HRR1 (p = 0.01, d = 0.30) and HRR2 (p < 0.001, d = 0.50). Multiple regressions revealed significant associations between cardiorespiratory and cognitive performance, but all were associated with small effect sizes (Cohen's d < 0.5). Interestingly, there were significant between-group differences in exercise engagement (all p < 0.001), with remote participants demonstrating greater exercise engagement than in-person participants. Conclusion Improvements in cognition and cardiorespiratory fitness were observed after 8 weeks of moderate to high-intensity exercise in aging adults. These results suggest that committing to a regular exercise regimen, even for a brief two-month period, can promote improvements in both cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive performance, and that improvements are driven by exercise engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie A Hinchman
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Danylo F Cabral
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | | | - Marti Flothmann
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Christina Nunez
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Jordyn Rice
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - David A Loewenstein
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Marcela Kitaigorodsky
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Lawrence P Cahalin
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Tatjana Rundek
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Linus Health, Waltham, MA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Rosindale, MA, United States.,Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Rosindale, MA, United States.,Guttmann Brain Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriele Cattaneo
- Guttmann Brain Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joyce Gomes-Osman
- Linus Health, Waltham, MA, United States.,Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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17
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Feigin A, Evans EE, Fisher TL, Leonard JE, Smith ES, Reader A, Mishra V, Manber R, Walters KA, Kowarski L, Oakes D, Siemers E, Kieburtz KD, Zauderer M. Pepinemab antibody blockade of SEMA4D in early Huntington's disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Nat Med 2022; 28:2183-2193. [PMID: 35941373 PMCID: PMC9361919 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01919-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
SIGNAL is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study (no. NCT02481674) established to evaluate pepinemab, a semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D)-blocking antibody, for treatment of Huntington's disease (HD). The trial enrolled a total of 265 HD gene expansion carriers with either early manifest (EM, n = 179) or late prodromal (LP, n = 86) HD, randomized (1:1) to receive 18 monthly infusions of pepinemab (n = 91 EM, 41 LP) or placebo (n = 88 EM, 45 LP). Pepinemab was generally well tolerated, with a relatively low frequency of serious treatment-emergent adverse events of 5% with pepinemab compared to 9% with placebo, including both EM and LP participants. Coprimary efficacy outcome measures consisted of assessments within the EM cohort of (1) a two-item HD cognitive assessment family comprising one-touch stockings of Cambridge (OTS) and paced tapping (PTAP) and (2) clinical global impression of change (CGIC). The differences between pepinemab and placebo in mean change (95% confidence interval) from baseline at month 17 for OTS were -1.98 (-4.00, 0.05) (one-sided P = 0.028), and for PTAP 1.43 (-0.37, 3.23) (one-sided P = 0.06). Similarly, because a significant treatment effect was not observed for CGIC, the coprimary endpoint, the study did not meet its prespecified primary outcomes. Nevertheless, a number of other positive outcomes and post hoc subgroup analyses-including additional cognitive measures and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography imaging assessments-provide rationale and direction for the design of a phase 3 study and encourage the continued development of pepinemab in patients diagnosed with EM HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Feigin
- New York University Langone Health and The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lisa Kowarski
- WCG Statistics Collaborative, Inc., Washington, DC, USA
| | - David Oakes
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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18
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Zheng B, Udeh-Momoh C, Watermeyer T, de Jager Loots CA, Ford JK, Robb CE, Giannakopoulou P, Ahmadi-Abhari S, Baker S, Novak GP, Price G, Middleton LT. Practice Effect of Repeated Cognitive Tests Among Older Adults: Associations With Brain Amyloid Pathology and Other Influencing Factors. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:909614. [PMID: 35875808 PMCID: PMC9297730 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.909614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Practice effects (PE), after repeated cognitive measurements, may mask cognitive decline and represent a challenge in clinical and research settings. However, an attenuated practice effect may indicate the presence of brain pathologies. This study aimed to evaluate practice effects on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) scale, and their associations with brain amyloid status and other factors in a cohort of cognitively unimpaired older adults enrolled in the CHARIOT-PRO SubStudy. Materials and Methods 502 cognitively unimpaired participants aged 60-85 years were assessed with RBANS in both screening and baseline clinic visits using alternate versions (median time gap of 3.5 months). We tested PE based on differences between test and retest scores in total scale and domain-specific indices. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine factors influencing PE, after adjusting for age, sex, education level, APOE-ε4 carriage and initial RBANS score. The latter and PE were also evaluated as predictors for amyloid positivity status based on defined thresholds, using logistic regression. Results Participants’ total scale, immediate memory and delayed memory indices were significantly higher in the second test than in the initial test (Cohen’s dz = 0.48, 0.70 and 0.35, P < 0.001). On the immediate memory index, the PE was significantly lower in the amyloid positive group than the amyloid negative group (P = 0.022). Older participants (≥70 years), women, non-APOE-ε4 carriers, and those with worse initial RBANS test performance had larger PE. No associations were found between brain MRI parameters and PE. In addition, attenuated practice effects in immediate or delayed memory index were independent predictors for amyloid positivity (P < 0.05). Conclusion Significant practice effects on RBANS total scale and memory indices were identified in cognitively unimpaired older adults. The association with amyloid status suggests that practice effects are not simply a source of measurement error but may be informative with regard to underlying neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang Zheng
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chinedu Udeh-Momoh
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tamlyn Watermeyer
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Celeste A. de Jager Loots
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie K. Ford
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine E. Robb
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Parthenia Giannakopoulou
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Ahmadi-Abhari
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Baker
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, Titusville, NJ, United States
| | - Gerald P. Novak
- Janssen Research and Development LLC, Titusville, NJ, United States
| | - Geraint Price
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Geraint Price,
| | - Lefkos T. Middleton
- Ageing Epidemiology (AGE) Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Public Health Directorate, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, United Kingdom
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19
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Sarkis R. Memories in Persons with Epilepsy: They Are More Fragile Than You Think. Epilepsy Curr 2022; 22:282-284. [PMID: 36285204 PMCID: PMC9549231 DOI: 10.1177/15357597221108026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
“Hidden Objective Memory Deficits Behind Subjective Memory Complaints in
Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy” Lemesle B, Barbeau EJ, Milongo Rigal E, Denuelle M, Valton L, Pariente J, Curot J.
Neurology. 2022 Feb 22;98(8):e818-e828. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013212. Epub 2021 Dec 14. PMID: 34906979. “Background and objectives: The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that patients with temporal lobe
epilepsy (TLE) with subjective initial memory complaints (not confirmed by an
objective standard assessment) and various phenotypes also show objective very
long-term memory deficit with accelerated long-term forgetting. We tested patients
with TLE with 2 surprise memory tests after 3 weeks: the standard Free and Cued
Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) and Epireal, a new test specifically designed to
capture more ecologic aspects of autobiographical memory. Methods: Forty-seven patients with TLE (12 with hippocampal sclerosis, 12 with amygdala
enlargement, 11 with extensive lesions, 12 with normal MRI) who complained about
their memory, but for whom the standard neuropsychological assessment did not reveal
any memory impairment after a standard delay of 20 minutes, underwent 2 surprise
memory tests after 3 weeks. They were compared to 35 healthy controls. Results: After 3 weeks, FCSRT and Epireal recall scores were significantly lower in patients
than in controls (P < .001). There was no significant
correlation between FCSRT and Epireal scores (P = .99). Seventy-six
percent of patients with TLE had objective impairment on at least 1 of these very
long-term memory tests, regardless of the existence and type of lesion or response
to antiseizure medication. Easily applicable, Epireal had a higher effect size,
detected deficits in 28% more patients, and is a useful addition to the standard
workup. Discussion: Assessing long-term memory should be broadened to a wide spectrum of patients with
TLE with a memory complaint, regardless of the epileptic syndrome, regardless of
whether it is associated with a lesion. This could lead to rethinking TLE nosology
associated with memory.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Sarkis
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Atkins AS, Kraus MS, Welch M, Yuan Z, Stevens H, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Keefe RSE. Remote self-administration of digital cognitive tests using the Brief Assessment of Cognition: Feasibility, reliability, and sensitivity to subjective cognitive decline. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:910896. [PMID: 36090378 PMCID: PMC9448897 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.910896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a common and pervasive feature of etiologically diverse disorders of the central nervous system, and a target indication for a growing number of symptomatic and disease modifying drugs. Remotely acquired digital endpoints have been recognized for their potential in providing frequent, real-time monitoring of cognition, but their ultimate value will be determined by the reliability and sensitivity of measurement in the populations of interest. To this end, we describe initial validation of remote self-administration of cognitive tests within a regulatorily compliant tablet-based platform. Participants were 61 older adults (age 55+), including 20 individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). To allow comparison between remote (in-home) and site-based testing, participants completed 2 testing sessions 1 week apart. Results for three of four cognitive domains assessed demonstrated equivalence between remote and site-based tests, with high cross-modality ICCs (absolute agreement) for Symbol Coding (ICC = 0.75), Visuospatial Working Memory (ICC = 0.70) and Verbal Fluency (ICC > 0.73). Group differences in these domains were significant and reflected sensitivity to objective cognitive impairment in the SCD group for both remote and site-based testing (p < 0.05). In contrast, performance on tests of verbal episodic memory suggested inflated performance during unmonitored testing and indicate reliable use of remote cognitive assessments may depend on the construct, as well as the population being tested.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kathleen A Welsh-Bohmer
- WCG-VeraSci, Durham, NC, United States.,Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Richard S E Keefe
- WCG-VeraSci, Durham, NC, United States.,Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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