Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
Detecting Amyloid-β Accumulation via Immunofluorescent Staining in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: April 19, 2021
Monitoring disease progression in mild cognitive impairment: Associations between atrophy patterns, cognition, APOE
Farshad Falahati1, Daniel Ferreira1, J-Sebastian Muehlboeck1
1Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Background:
A disease severity index (SI) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been proposed that summarizes MRI-derived structural measures into a single score using multivariate data analysis.
Objectives:
To longitudinally evaluate the use of the SI to monitor disease progression and predict future progression to AD in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Further, to investigate the association between longitudinal change in the SI and cognitive impairment, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype as well as the levels of cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-beta 1-42 (Aβ) peptide.
Methods:
The dataset included 195 AD, 145 MCI and 228 control subjects with annual follow-up for three years, where 70 MCI subjects progressed to AD (MCI-p). For each subject the SI was generated at baseline and follow-ups using 55 regional cortical thickness and subcortical volumes measures that extracted by the FreeSurfer longitudinal stream.
Results:
MCI-p subjects had a faster increase of the SI over time (p < 0.001). A higher SI at baseline in MCI-p was related to progression to AD at earlier follow-ups (p < 0.001) and worse cognitive impairment (p < 0.001). AD-like MCI patients with the APOE ε4 allele and abnormal Aβ levels had a faster increase of the SI, independently (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004).
Conclusions:
Longitudinal changes in the SI reflect structural brain changes and can identify MCI patients at risk of progression to AD. Disease-related brain structural changes are influenced independently by APOE genotype and amyloid pathology. The SI has the potential to be used as a sensitive tool to predict future dementia, monitor disease progression as well as an outcome measure for clinical trials.
Insights
The Alzheimer's disease severity index (SI) effectively tracks brain changes and predicts progression in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Higher SI scores indicate faster disease advancement and are influenced by APOE genotype and amyloid levels.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- A novel disease severity index (SI) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been developed, integrating MRI-derived structural measures into a single score via multivariate analysis.
- This index aims to quantify disease progression using neuroimaging data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess the SI's utility in monitoring disease progression in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- To evaluate the SI's ability to predict future progression to AD in MCI patients.
- To explore the relationship between SI changes, cognitive function, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, and cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-beta 1-42 (Aβ) levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dataset of 195 AD, 145 MCI, and 228 control subjects with annual follow-up over three years.
- Calculated the SI for each subject at baseline and follow-ups using 55 regional cortical thickness and subcortical volume measures derived from FreeSurfer longitudinal stream.
- Included 70 individuals who progressed from MCI to AD (MCI-p) in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Subjects who progressed from MCI to AD (MCI-p) exhibited a significantly faster increase in SI over time (p < 0.001).
- A higher baseline SI in MCI patients correlated with earlier progression to AD and more severe cognitive impairment (p < 0.001).
- The SI increase was independently accelerated in MCI patients with the APOE ε4 allele and abnormal Aβ levels (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal SI changes accurately reflect structural brain alterations and identify MCI patients at elevated risk of progressing to AD.
- Both APOE genotype and amyloid pathology independently influence disease-related structural brain changes.
- The SI shows promise as a sensitive biomarker for predicting dementia, monitoring disease progression, and serving as an outcome measure in clinical trials.
More Related Videos
09:38Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction PPI Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
07:28Full- versus Sub-Regional Quantification of Amyloid-Beta Load on Mouse Brain Sections
Published on: May 19, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
01:30Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....