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Amyloid deposition and CBF patterns predict conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia

Takayuki Kikukawa1, Takato Abe2, Suzuka Ataka1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3, Asahimachi ,Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan.

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|June 25, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Amyloid PET scans can predict Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Reduced cerebral blood flow patterns also indicate higher dementia conversion risk.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neurology
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal cognition and dementia.
  • Identifying reliable biomarkers for dementia development is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate amyloid deposition using PiB PET and cerebral blood flow (CBF) using SPECT as biomarkers for dementia development in amnestic MCI patients.
  • To assess the predictive value of these biomarkers for conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Main Methods:

  • An 18-month follow-up study involving 28 patients with amnestic MCI.
  • Amyloid deposition was measured using Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
  • Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was assessed using Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in a subset of patients.

Main Results:

  • Patients with positive or equivocal PiB PET results showed a significantly higher conversion rate to dementia (74%) compared to PiB-negative patients (33%).
  • MCI patients exhibiting an AD-characteristic pattern of reduced CBF had a higher rate of positive/equivocal PiB scans (82%) and a higher conversion rate to dementia (82%).
  • All PiB-positive converters were diagnosed with AD, while PiB-negative converters were diagnosed with other forms of dementia.

Conclusions:

  • Amyloid PET imaging is a valuable tool for predicting conversion to AD in individuals with MCI.
  • Perfusion SPECT patterns suggestive of AD may also aid in predicting conversion, although with lower specificity than amyloid PET.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseMild cognitive impairmentPerfusion SPECTPittsburg compound BPositron emission tomography

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