Association of domain‐specific cognitive functions with regional pattern of atrophy and functional connectivity across the Alzheimer's disease spectrum: An analysis from the DELCODE cohort: Human neuropathology/imaging‐pathologic correlations. (7th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amaefule, Chimezie O.; Dyrba, Martin; Wolfsgruber, Steffen; Peters, Oliver; Priller, Josef; Schneider, Anja; Wiltfang, Jens; Bürger, Katharina; Laske, Christoph; Fliessbach, Klaus; Spottke, Annika; Düzel, Emrah; Metzger, Coraline D.; Wagner, Michael; Jessen, Frank; Teipel, Stefan J.
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 16(2020)Supplement 2
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-07
• Subjects: 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: 10.1002/alz.042992
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been found associated with regional structural atrophy and functional disruption of neural networks, such as the default mode (DMN), visual (VN) and executive networks (EN) in structural and functional imaging (fMRI) studies, mostly using single test scores of cognitive performance among monocentric cohorts. In contrast to single test scores, cognitive domain composite scores could be more reliable than single test scores due to the reduction of measurement error. Using a multicentric resting state fMRI (rs‐fMRI) and cognitive domain approach, we provide a comprehensive description of the structural and functional correlates of the key cognitive domains of AD with a focus on visuo‐spatial deficits, which manifest in the early stages of the disease. Method: We analyzed MRI, rs‐fMRI and cognitive domain score data of 490 participants from the N700 cohort of the multicenter DELCODE study, including 54 people with Alzheimer's Dementia (AD), 86 with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), 175 with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), and 175 Healthy Controls (HC) (Table 1). Resulting cognitive domain composite scores (executive, visuo‐spatial, memory, working memory and language) from the DELCODE neuropsychological battery (DELCODE‐NP), were derived using confirmatory factor analysis. Statistical analysis examined the differences between diagnostic groups, and the association of composite scores with regional atrophy and network‐specific functional connectivity. Result: Cognitive performance significantly differed between diagnostic groups in AD‐spectrum (Table 2). Regional gray matter atrophy was associated with visuospatial and other cognitive impairments in AD‐spectrum (Figure 1). Patterns of network‐specific resting‐state functional connectivity (except VN) was associated with distinct cognitive impairments in AD‐spectrum (Figure 2). Conclusion: Robust associations between cognitive domain scores and both regional atrophy and network‐specific functional connectivity (except for VN), suggest the utility of the multicentric and cognitive domain approach towards explicating the relationship between imaging markers and cognition in AD‐spectrum.