Clinical Manifestations.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• The East Boston memory test (EBMT) is a brief story recall measure.
• Its ability to predict postmortem Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is not well understood.
• The applicability of serial position analysis to EBMT for AD prediction requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the EBMT's utility in predicting postmortem AD neuropathology.
• To determine if serial position analysis enhances EBMT's predictive power for AD.
• To assess EBMT's effectiveness in early AD pathology detection in cognitively healthy individuals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 1699 participants across three Rush University cohorts.
• Employed Bayesian and Frequentist statistical analyses, including regression models.
• Examined immediate recall, delayed recall (primacy effect), and serial position metrics as predictors of postmortem AD pathology, controlling for age, gender, education, and APOE e4 status.

Main Results:

• Bayesian analysis identified immediate recall and delayed primacy recall as significant predictors.
• Frequentist analyses confirmed that both immediate and delayed primacy recall improved model fit.
• Immediate and delayed primacy recalls predicted neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, but not diffuse plaques.

Conclusions:

• The EBMT is a suitable tool for the early prediction of AD pathology in cognitively healthy individuals.
• Immediate recall and delayed primacy performance independently contribute to predicting postmortem AD neuropathology.
• Serial position analysis, specifically primacy, enhances the predictive value of the EBMT for AD.