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Is there a specific memory signature associated with Aβ-PET positivity in patients with amnestic mild cognitive

Clémence Tomadesso1, Julie Gonneaud2, Stéphanie Egret2

  • 1Inserm, Inserm UMR-S U1237, Université de Caen-Normandie, GIP Cyceron, Caen, France; Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.

Neurobiology of Aging
|February 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Beta amyloid positivity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is linked to specific memory issues, particularly with the primacy effect. This finding aids in identifying Alzheimer's disease pathology in aMCI patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) presents with memory deficits and can be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Beta-amyloid accumulation, detectable via positron emission tomography (PET), is a key hallmark of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology.
  • Understanding specific memory impairments in aMCI related to beta-amyloid status is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between beta-amyloid positivity, confirmed by [18F]Florbetapir PET scans, and specific memory deficits in patients with aMCI.
  • To compare memory performance in beta-amyloid-positive aMCI patients with beta-amyloid-negative aMCI patients and healthy controls.
  • To explore the relationship between beta-amyloid status and patterns of brain atrophy in aMCI.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 48 patients with aMCI (33 beta-amyloid positive, 15 negative) and 40 beta-amyloid-negative controls.
  • Assessed memory using autobiographical fluency and word-list learning tasks with varying encoding types (shallow/incidental vs. deep/intentional).
  • Utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) to evaluate medial temporal lobe volume and atrophy patterns.

Main Results:

  • Both aMCI subgroups showed significant global memory deficits compared to controls.
  • Beta-amyloid-positive aMCI patients exhibited a more pronounced impairment in the primacy effect compared to beta-amyloid-negative aMCI patients.
  • No significant differences in atrophy patterns or medial temporal volume loss were observed between the two aMCI subgroups.

Conclusions:

  • While both aMCI groups show memory impairment, the primacy effect deficit is subtly associated with beta-amyloid positivity.
  • Assessing the primacy effect may enhance the identification of beta-amyloid-positive aMCI patients, suggesting underlying Alzheimer's disease.
  • Structural brain changes were comparable between beta-amyloid-positive and negative aMCI patients, indicating other factors may influence memory deficits.
Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseaseAmnestic mild cognitive impairmentBeta amyloidHippocampusMemoryPositron emission tomography

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