Mild cognitive impairment-to-Alzheimer's dementia progression risk: the contribution of the Interceptor project

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) signifies a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
• A significant percentage of individuals with MCI (30-50%) progress to dementia within 3-5 years.
• Early identification of high-risk individuals is critical for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a predictive tool for dementia progression in MCI patients.
• To identify key clinical, neuropsychological, and biomarker factors associated with dementia risk.

Main Methods:

• The INTERCEPTOR project enrolled 398 individuals with MCI.
• Comprehensive baseline assessments included sociodemographics, clinical data, neuropsychological testing, genetic analysis (apolipoprotein E), cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (amyloid beta, tau), electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography.
• Follow-up included neuropsychological testing every six months for three years for 351 participants.

Main Results:

• Dementia developed in 29.6% of participants, with 22.4% meeting criteria for probable or possible Alzheimer's disease dementia.
• A Cox model using clinical and sociodemographic data achieved 72% concordance.
• Incorporating neuropsychology and biomarkers improved the model's concordance to 82%.

Conclusions:

• The INTERCEPTOR nomogram is a valuable tool for predicting dementia progression risk.
• This nomogram can support public health strategies, including risk assessment and guiding treatment decisions.
• The findings highlight the utility of integrating multimodal data for improved dementia risk prediction.