The neuropsychology of normal aging and preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Issue 1 (28th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caselli, Richard J.; Locke, Dona E.C.; Dueck, Amylou C.; Knopman, David S.; Woodruff, Bryan K.; Hoffman‐Snyder, Charlene; Rademakers, Rosa; Fleisher, Adam S.; Reiman, Eric M.
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 10:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2013-03-28
• Subjects: Preclinical Alzheimer's disease -- Cognitive aging -- Age‐related memory loss -- Mild cognitive impairment -- Apolipoprotein E -- Longitudinal testing; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.01.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: A National Institute on Aging–sponsored work group on preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) articulated the need to characterize cognitive differences between normal aging and preclinical AD. Methods: Seventy‐one apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) ε4 homozygotes, 194 ε3/ε4 heterozygotes, and 356 ε4 noncarriers age 21 to 87 years who were cognitively healthy underwent neuropsychological testing every 2 years. Longitudinal trajectories of test scores were compared between APOE subgroups. Results: There was a significant effect of age on all cognitive domains in both APOE ε4 carriers and noncarriers. A significant effect of APOE ε4 gene dose was confined to the memory domain and the Dementia Rating Scale. Cross‐sectional comparisons did not discriminate the groups. Conclusions: Although cognitive aging patterns are similar in APOE ε4 carriers and noncarriers, preclinical AD is characterized by a significant ε4 gene dose effect that impacts memory and is detectable longitudinally. Preclinical neuropsychological testing strategies should emphasize memory‐sensitive measures and longitudinal design.