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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
Published on: June 26, 2013
Biomarker progressions explain higher variability in stage-specific cognitive decline than baseline values in
Hiroko H Dodge1, Jian Zhu2, Danielle Harvey3
1Department of Neurology, Layton Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Background:
It is unknown which commonly used Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker values-baseline or progression-best predict longitudinal cognitive decline.
Methods:
526 subjects from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). ADNI composite memory and executive scores were the primary outcomes. Individual-specific slope of the longitudinal trajectory of each biomarker was first estimated. These estimates and observed baseline biomarker values were used as predictors of cognitive declines. Variability in cognitive declines explained by baseline biomarker values was compared with variability explained by biomarker progression values.
Results:
About 40% of variability in memory and executive function declines was explained by ventricular volume progression among mild cognitive impairment patients. A total of 84% of memory and 65% of executive function declines were explained by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) score progression and ventricular volume progression, respectively, among AD patients.
Conclusions:
For most biomarkers, biomarker progressions explained higher variability in cognitive decline than biomarker baseline values. This has important implications for clinical trials targeted to modify AD biomarkers.
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