Association of CSF biomarkers with MRI brain changes in Alzheimer's disease

The relation between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures is poorly understood in cognitively healthy individuals from the general population. Participants' (n = 226) mean age was 70.9 years (SD = 0.4). CSF concentrations of amyloid beta (Aβ)1-42, total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), neurogranin, and neurofilament light, and volumes of hippocampus, amygdala, total basal forebrain (TBF), and cortical thickness were measured. Linear associations between CSF biomarkers and MRI measures were investigated. In Aβ1-42 positives, higher t-tau and p-tau were associated with smaller hippocampus (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003) and amygdala (P = 0.005 and P = 0.01). In Aβ1-42 negatives, higher t-tau, p-tau, and neurogranin were associated with larger TBF volume (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.01). No associations were observed between the CSF biomarkers and an AD signature score of cortical thickness. AD-specific biomarkers in cognitively healthy 70-year-olds may be related to TBF, hippocampus, and amygdala. Lack of association with cortical thickness might be due to early stage of disease.