Affliction class moderates the dementing impact of amyloidopathy

The treatment of dementia is increasingly likely to focus on dementia-related biomarkers. Unfortunately, there is variability with regard to biomarker-related effects. This analysis tests an algorithm capable of identifying persons adversely impacted by any dementia-related biomarker in this case, amyloidopathy as estimated by positron emission tomography (PET).

N = 1,737 subjects of the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative were assigned to amyloidopathy-affliction classes. Moderation effects were tested by chi-square difference.

39.3% of subjects with (+) PET results were assigned to the afflicted class. The afflicted subjects had greater dementia severity and higher amyloid burdens. These effects persisted at 36 months. Furthermore, the association between amyloid burden and dementia severity was moderated by affliction class. Afflicted nondemented cases with positive PET findings were more likely to convert to clinical "Alzheimer's disease" over 48 months, by Cox's F: F(312, 154) = 1.27, p = .05. PET assessed amyloid burden was not related to dementia severity in resilient PET (+) cases.

Our approach could allow for more accurate prediction of biomarker effects and guide precision interventions against specific biomarkers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).