Motor, not cognitive, performance relates to amyloid status in normal older adults

The National Insitutes of Health Toolbox (NIHTB) measures may be useful for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk detection. This study investigates whether cognitively normal older adults with and without elevated brain amyloid, an early AD biomarker, differed on NIHTB cognitive and motor subtests and whether inclusion of pTau-217 enhanced this differentiation. Motor measures were of interest based on past research reporting linkages to early AD pathology.

Data from 112 consensus-diagnosed cognitively normal older adults who completed amyloid-PET imaging, blood draw for pTau217 analysis, and NIHTB Cognition and Motor batteries were analyzed using linear regression.

Amyloid positivity significantly predicted performance on only NIHTB Standing Balance (F(2,86) = 9.90, p < 0.001). Inclusion of pTau217 enhanced prediction of Standing Balance (F(4,84) = 5.88, p < 0.001) and Walking Endurance (F(4,88) = 9.70, p < 0.001) and Dominant-hand Grip Strength (F(2,92) = 51.59, p < 0.001).

For AD-related detection research, findings support inclusion of NIHTB motor measures, which may prove more sensitive early in the disease course before overt cognitive change.

The National Institutes of Health ToolBox motor performance may signal early Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk, even before memory change.Balance performance may be sensitive to early cumulative AD-neuropathology loading.Motor measures should be included in early AD-risk detection batteries.