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Published on: October 13, 2016
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Non-memory cognitive symptom development in Alzheimer's disease.
A Blenkinsop1, W M van der Flier2,3, D Wolk4
1Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK.
European Journal of Neurology
|February 21, 2020
Summary
Younger-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) progresses with more non-memory symptoms. Early presentation age increases the risk of developing language, visuospatial, and attention deficits, with limited APOE-ε4 gene influence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Memory loss is the most common initial symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Understanding the progression of non-memory cognitive symptoms in AD is crucial for disease management and identifying potential treatment subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development of non-memory cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.
- To explore the relationship between age at presentation, prior symptoms, and the emergence of new cognitive deficits.
- To assess the influence of the apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE-ε4) gene on symptom progression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center.
- Employed logistic regression models to analyze symptom development at initial and follow-up visits.
- Adjusted for age, prior symptoms, symptom duration, sex, and APOE-ε4 status.
Main Results:
- A reduction in presentation age by a decade increased the likelihood of developing language, visuospatial, and attention symptoms (8-18%).
- Earlier presentation age also increased the odds of developing judgement symptoms at the second visit (13%).
- The APOE-ε4 gene had minimal impact on the observed cognitive symptom development patterns.
Conclusions:
- Younger-onset AD is characterized by the progressive development of multiple non-memory cognitive symptoms.
- The observed symptom associations suggest potential network-specific pathology in early AD.
- The limited effect of APOE-ε4 suggests its primary influence may occur very early in the disease course.
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