Association of Amyloid-β Pathology with Decision Making and Scam Susceptibility

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Alifiya Kapasi ◽  
Lei Yu ◽  
Christopher Stewart ◽  
Julie A. Schneider ◽  
David A. Bennett ◽  
...  

Background: Recent findings suggest that poor decision making and increased scam susceptibility are harbingers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and may be among the earliest behavioral manifestations of pathologic cognitive aging. However, the degree to which poor decision making and scam susceptibility reflect accumulating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the associations of AD pathology with decision making and scam susceptibility in older adults without dementia. Methods: Data came from 198 deceased participants without clinical dementia (mean age at death = 90 years; 69%women) from two ongoing studies of aging. All underwent annual clinical evaluations, completed assessments of healthcare and financial decision making and scam susceptibility, and brain donation. Neuropathologic evaluations quantified pathologic hallmarks of AD, amyloid-β and tau-tangles, Lewy body pathology, and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Results: In linear regression models adjusted for demographics, amyloid-β pathology was associated with lower decision making (estimate = –0.35; SE = 0.16, p = 0.03), particularly healthcare decision making (estimate = –0.20; SE = 0.09, p = 0.03), as well as greater scam susceptibility (estimate = 0.12; SE = 0.04, p = 0.003); tau-tangle pathology was not related. Further, TDP-43 pathology was associated with greater scam susceptibility (estimate = 0.10; SE = 0.04; p = 0.02). Conclusion: Accumulating AD pathology, particularly amyloid-β, is associated with poor decision making and increased scam susceptibility among older persons without overt cognitive impairment. These findings provide compelling evidence that decision making and scam susceptibility are sensitive to the earliest pathological changes of AD.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Drake ◽  
Alison B. Chambers ◽  
Brian R. Ott ◽  
Lori A. Daiello ◽  

Background: Cerebrovascular dysfunction confers risk for functional decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet the clinical interplay of these two pathogenic processes is not well understood. Objective: We utilized Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data to examine associations between peripherally derived soluble cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and clinical diagnostic indicators of AD. Methods: Using generalized linear regression models, we examined cross-sectional relationships of soluble plasma vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-Selectin to baseline diagnosis and functional impairment (clinical dementia rating sum-of-boxes, CDR-SB) in the ADNI cohort (n = 112 AD, n = 396 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), n = 58 cognitively normal). We further analyzed associations of these biomarkers with brain-based AD biomarkers in a subset with available cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data (n = 351). p-values derived from main effects and interaction terms from the linear regressions were used to assess the relationship between independent and dependent variables for significance (significance level was set at 0.05 a priori for all analysis). Results: Higher mean VCAM-1 (p = 0.0026) and ICAM-1 (p = 0.0189) levels were found in AD versus MCI groups; however, not in MCI versus cognitively normal groups. Only VCAM-1 was linked with CDR-SB scores (p = 0.0157), and APOE ɛ4 genotype modified this effect. We observed independent, additive associations when VCAM-1 and CSF amyloid-β (Aβ 42), total tau, phosphorylated tau (P-tau), or P-tau/Aβ 42 (all <  p = 0.01) were combined in a CDR-SB model; ICAM-1 showed a similar pattern, but to a lesser extent. Conclusion: Our findings indicate independent associations of plasma-based vascular biomarkers and CSF biomarkers with AD-related clinical impairment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Fennie Choy Chin Wong ◽  
Seyed Ehsan Saffari ◽  
Chathuri Yatawara ◽  
Kok Pin Ng ◽  
Nagaendran Kandiah ◽  
...  

Background: The associations between small vessel disease (SVD) and cerebrospinal amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ1-42) pathology have not been well-elucidated. Objective: Baseline (BL) white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were examined for associations with month-24 (M24) and longitudinal Aβ1-42 change in cognitively normal (CN) subjects. The interaction of WMH and Aβ1-42 on memory and executive function were also examined. Methods: This study included 72 subjects from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated associations between baseline WMH/intracranial volume ratio, M24 and change in Aβ1-42 over two years. Linear mixed effects models evaluated interactions between BL WMH/ICV and Aβ1-42 on memory and executive function. Results: Mean age of the subjects (Nmales = 36) = 73.80 years, SD = 6.73; mean education years = 17.1, SD = 2.4. BL WMH was significantly associated with M24 Aβ1-42 (p = 0.008) and two-year change in Aβ1-42 (p = 0.006). Interaction between higher WMH and lower Aβ1-42 at baseline was significantly associated with worse memory at baseline and M24 (p = 0.003). Conclusion: BL WMH was associated with M24 and longitudinal Aβ1-42 change in CN. The interaction between higher WMH and lower Aβ1-42 was associated with poorer memory. Since SVD is associated with longitudinal Aβ1-42 pathology, and the interaction of both factors is linked to poorer cognitive outcomes, the mitigation of SVD may be correlated with reduced amyloid pathology and milder cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S477-S478
Author(s):  
Evan Z Gross ◽  
Rebecca J Campbell ◽  
LaToya Hall ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg

Abstract Financial decision making self-efficacy (FDMSE) is a novel construct that may influence how older adults make financial decisions. Our previous research with a community sample of older adults demonstrated that cognitive functioning and suspected history of financial exploitation were both associated with low FDMSE. We sought to replicate these findings in two clinical samples of older adults: people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or probable Alzheimer’s disease (PAD) and current victims of scams or exploitation as determined by a financial coach. Samples were obtained from the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center and a financial coaching intervention study. All participants completed a 4-item FDMSE measure. One-way ANOVAs, t-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to test for group differences with controls on demographics. There was a main effect of cognitive status on FDMSE, F(2,138) = 8.10, p &lt; .001, which was driven by higher FDMSE in the healthy group (N = 63) than the MCI (N = 76) or PAD (N = 28) groups. Similarly, scam victims (N = 25) had significantly lower FDMSE than non-exploited (N = 25) peers, t(48)=2.33, p &lt; 05. Cognitive impairment and current financial scams are both associated with low FDMSE levels. Low FDMSE may exacerbate cognitive and psychosocial vulnerabilities that contribute to risk for poor financial decisions among older adults. Future interventions to enhance FDMSE may help older adults make better decisions despite changes in thinking abilities or previous negative financial experiences.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Luca Sacchi ◽  
Tiziana Carandini ◽  
Giorgio Giulio Fumagalli ◽  
Anna Margherita Pietroboni ◽  
Valeria Elisa Contarino ◽  
...  

Background: Association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-amyloid-β (Aβ)42 and amyloid-PET measures is inconstant across the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) spectrum. However, they are considered interchangeable, along with Aβ 42/40 ratio, for defining ‘Alzheimer’s Disease pathologic change’ (A+). Objective: Herein, we further characterized the association between amyloid-PET and CSF biomarkers and tested their agreement in a cohort of AD spectrum patients. Methods: We include ed 23 patients who underwent amyloid-PET, MRI, and CSF analysis showing reduced levels of Aβ 42 within a 365-days interval. Thresholds used for dichotomization were: Aβ 42 <  640 pg/mL (Aβ 42+); pTau >  61 pg/mL (pTau+); and Aβ 42/40 <  0.069 (ADratio+). Amyloid-PET scans were visually assessed and processed by four pipelines (SPMCL, SPMAAL, FSGM, FSWC). Results: Different pipelines gave highly inter-correlated standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) (rho = 0.93–0.99). The most significant findings were: pTau positive correlation with SPMCL SUVR (rho = 0.56, p = 0.0063) and Aβ 42/40 negative correlation with SPMCL and SPMAAL SUVRs (rho = –0.56, p = 0.0058; rho = –0.52, p = 0.0117 respectively). No correlations between CSF-Aβ 42 and global SUVRs were observed. In subregion analysis, both pTau and Aβ 42/40 values significantly correlated with cingulate SUVRs from any pipeline (R2 = 0.55–0.59, p <  0.0083), with the strongest associations observed for the posterior/isthmus cingulate areas. However, only associations observed for Aβ 42/40 ratio were still significant in linear regression models. Moreover, combining pTau with Aβ 42 or using Aβ 42/40, instead of Aβ 42 alone, increased concordance with amyloid-PET status from 74% to 91% based on visual reads and from 78% to 96% based on Centiloids. Conclusion: We confirmed that, in the AD spectrum, amyloid-PET measures show a stronger association and a better agreement with CSF-Aβ 42/40 and secondarily pTau rather than Aβ 42 levels.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Mohammed Ali ◽  
Hiroshi Kunugi

The astronomical increase of the world’s aged population is associated with the increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, heightened disability, and extremely high costs of care. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a widespread, age-related, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that has enormous social and financial drawbacks worldwide. The unsatisfactory outcomes of available AD pharmacotherapy necessitate the search for alternative natural resources that can target the various underlying mechanisms of AD pathology and reduce disease occurrence and/or progression. Royal jelly (RJ) is the main food of bee queens; it contributes to their fertility, long lifespan, and memory performance. It represents a potent nutraceutical with various pharmacological properties, and has been used in a number of preclinical studies to target AD and age-related cognitive deterioration. To understand the mechanisms through which RJ affects cognitive performance both in natural aging and AD, we reviewed the literature, elaborating on the metabolic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that mediate its anti-AD effects. Preclinical findings revealed that RJ acts as a multidomain cognitive enhancer that can restore cognitive performance in aged and AD models. It promotes brain cell survival and function by targeting multiple adversities in the neuronal microenvironment such as inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial alterations, impaired proteostasis, amyloid-β toxicity, Ca excitotoxicity, and bioenergetic challenges. Human trials using RJ in AD are limited in quantity and quality. Here, the limitations of RJ-based treatment strategies are discussed, and directions for future studies examining the effect of RJ in cognitively impaired subjects are noted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-194
Author(s):  
Tam Watermeyer ◽  
Alejandra Marroig ◽  
Craig W. Ritchie ◽  
Karen Ritchie ◽  
Kaj Blennow ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive dispersion, variation in performance across cognitive domains, is posited as a non-invasive and cost-effective marker of early neurodegeneration. Little work has explored associations between cognitive dispersion and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers in healthy older adults. Even less is known about the influence or interaction of biomarkers reflecting brain pathophysiology or other risk factors on cognitive dispersion scores. Objective: The main aim of this study was to examine whether higher cognitive dispersion was associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid-β (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and amyloid positivity in a cohort of older adults at various severities of AD. A secondary aim was to explore which AD risk factors were associated with cognitive dispersion scores. Methods: Linear and logistic regression analyses explored the associations between dispersion and CSF levels of Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau and amyloid positivity (Aβ42 < 1000 pg/ml). Relationships between sociodemographics, APOE ɛ4 status, family history of dementia, and levels of depression and dispersion were also assessed. Results: Dispersion did not emerge as associated with any of the analytes nor amyloid positivity. Older (β= –0.007, SE = 0.002, p = 0.001) and less educated (β= –0.009, SE = 0.003, p = 0.009) individuals showed greater dispersion. Conclusion: Dispersion was not associated with AD pathology, but was associated with age and years of education, highlighting individual differences in cognitive aging. The use of this metric as a screening tool for existing AD pathology is not supported by our analyses. Follow-up work will determine if dispersion scores can predict changes in biomarker levels and/or positivity status longitudinally.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosaleena Mohanty ◽  
Daniel Ferreira ◽  
Simon Frerich ◽  
J-Sebastian Muehlboeck ◽  
Michel Grothe ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate whether antemortem atrophy-based subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be differentially susceptible to individual or concomitance of AD and non-AD (co)-pathologies, assessed neuropathologically at postmortem.MethodsWe selected 31 individuals from the AD neuroimaging initiative with: an antemortem magnetic resonance imaging scan evaluating brain atrophy available within two years before death; an antemortem diagnosis of AD dementia or prodromal AD; and postmortem neuropathological confirmation of AD. Antemortem atrophy-based subtypes was modeled as a continuous phenomenon in terms of two recently proposed dimensions: typicality (ranging from limbic-predominant AD to hippocampal-sparing AD subtypes) and severity (ranging from typical AD to minimal atrophy AD subtypes). Postmortem neuropathological evaluation included global and regional outcomes: AD hallmark pathologies of amyloid-beta and tau; non-AD co-pathologies of alpha-synuclein Lewy body and TDP-43; and the overall concomitance across these four (co)-pathologies. Partial correlation and linear regression models were used to assess the association between antemortem atrophy-based subtypes and postmortem neuropathological outcomes.ResultsWe observed significant global and regional associations between antemortem typicality and postmortem (co)-pathologies including tau, alpha-synuclein Lewy bodies and TDP-43. Antemortem typicality demonstrated stronger regional associations with concomitance of multiple postmortem (co)-pathologies in comparison to antemortem severity. Our findings suggest the following susceptibilities of atrophy-based subtypes: limbic-predominant AD towards higher burden of tau and TDP-43 pathologies while hippocampal-sparing AD towards lower burdens; limbic-predominant AD and typical AD towards higher burden of alpha-synuclein Lewy body pathology while hippocampal-sparing AD and minimal-atrophy AD towards lower burdens.DiscussionThrough a direct antemortem-to-postmortem validation, our study highlights the importance of understanding heterogeneity in AD in relation to concomitance of AD and non-AD pathologies. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of both global and regional vulnerabilities of the biological subtypes of AD brain towards (co)-pathologies. Relative involvement of both AD hallmark and non-AD (co)-pathologies will enhance prevailing knowledge of biological heterogeneity in AD and could thus, contribute towards tracking disease progression and designing clinical trials in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi-chen Zhu ◽  
Wen-zhuo Dai ◽  
Tao Ma

Abstract Background The complement component (3b/4b) receptor 1 gene (CR1) gene has been proved to affect the susceptibility of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in different ethnic and districts groups. However, the effect of CR1 genetic variants on amyloid β (Aβ) metabolism of AD human is still unclear. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate genetic influences of CR1 gene on Aβ metabolism. Methods All data of AD patients and normal controls (NC) were obtained from alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative database (ADNI) database. In order to assess the effect of each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CR1 on Aβ metabolism, the PLINK software was used to conduct the quality control procedures to enroll appropriate SNPs. Moreover, the correlation between CR1 genotypes and Aβ metabolism in all participants were estimated with multiple linear regression models. Results After quality control procedures, a total of 329 samples and 83 SNPs were enrolled in our study. Moreover, our results identified five SNPs (rs10494884, rs11118322, rs1323721, rs17259045 and rs41308433), which were linked to Aβ accumulation in brain. In further analyses, rs17259045 was found to decrease Aβ accumulation among AD patients. Additionally, our study revealed the genetic variants in rs12567945 could increase CSF Aβ42 in NC population. Conclusions Our study had revealed several novel SNPs in CR1 genes which might be involved in the progression of AD via regulating Aβ accumulation. These findings will provide a new basis for the diagnosis and treatment AD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
liang xiaoyan ◽  
Cuicui Liu ◽  
Keke Liu ◽  
Lin Cong ◽  
Yongxiang Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Emerging evidence has linked TOMM40 and PVRL2 polymorphisms with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We examined their associations with AD and plasma AD biomarkers and interaction on AD risk among Chinese older adults. Methods This population-based study included 4876 participants (age ≥ 65 years, 57.2% women) from MIND-China. TOMM40(rs2075650) and PVRL2(rs6859) polymorphisms were detected using multiple-polymerase chain reaction amplification. Plasma Aβ40, Aβ42, and t-tau were measured using SIMOA in a subsample (n = 1257). Data was analyzed using multiple logistic and general linear regression models. Results AD was diagnosed in 182 participants. The multi-adjusted odds ratio of AD was 6.24(95%CI 1.73–22.48) for TOMM40GG (vs. AA), 1.47(0.89–2.42) for PVRL2AA (vs. GG), and 12.87(3.97–41.73) for having both risk alleles (Pinteraction=0.0003). In the plasma biomarker subsample, TOMM40GG was significantly associated with lower plasma Aβ42 and the Aβ42-to-Aβ40 ratio (p < 0.05). Conclusions TOMM40 and PVRL2 genes could interact to substantially increase the likelihood of AD, possibly through influencing Aβ metabolism.


2014 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 99-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Allsop ◽  
Jennifer Mayes

One of the hallmarks of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is the formation of senile plaques in the brain, which contain fibrils composed of Aβ (amyloid β-peptide). According to the ‘amyloid cascade’ hypothesis, the aggregation of Aβ initiates a sequence of events leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, and on to the main symptom of dementia. However, emphasis has now shifted away from fibrillar forms of Aβ and towards smaller and more soluble ‘oligomers’ as the main culprit in AD. The present chapter commences with a brief introduction to the disease and its current treatment, and then focuses on the formation of Aβ from the APP (amyloid precursor protein), the genetics of early-onset AD, which has provided strong support for the amyloid cascade hypothesis, and then on the development of new drugs aimed at reducing the load of cerebral Aβ, which is still the main hope for providing a more effective treatment for AD in the future.


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