Apraxia profiles predict general cognitive deficits in patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology
Authors: Weiss Peter H. , Schmidt Claudia C. , Barddakan Michella , Jaeger Elena , Richter Nils , Bischof Gérard N. , Giehl Kathrin , Onur Özgür A. , Jessen Frank , Fink Gereon R. , Drzezga Alexander 
Published: April 2024

Background

Apraxia represents a core feature of Alzheimer’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder associated with increased β-amyloid plaques and tau deposition. However, descriptions of apraxic deficits in AD patients are still scarce. Here, we comprehensively investigate apraxia profiles and their impact on general cognitive deficits in patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology.

Methods

We characterized the frequency and patterns of apraxic deficits in patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology (n=45) using a battery of standardized apraxia tests. Demographic variables and apraxia scores were related to patients’ general cognitive impairment using hierarchical regression analyses.

Results

Apraxic deficits were found in 78% of patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology. AD patients were more impaired in imitating finger gestures (than hand gestures: 76.6% vs. 87.8%, p < 0.001), and imitating complex hand movements (than single hand movements: 76.3% vs. 96.7%, p < 0.001), even when controlling for general cognitive impairment. Apraxia assessments explained about 60% of the variance related to the severity of general cognitive deficits, with deficits in pantomiming object use (beta coefficient: 0.55, p = 0.017) and imitating finger gestures (beta coefficient: −0.51, p < 0.001) being significant predictors of general cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

These findings underline the relevance of apraxia in patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology. Data revealed distinct apraxia profiles independent of patients’ general cognitive status and showed that praxis performance, especially apraxic deficits in pantomiming the use of objects and imitating finger gestures, predicts general cognitive functioning in Alzheimer’s disease.

What is already known on this topic

Apraxic deficits have been commonly reported in patients with suspected Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Current diagnostic criteria of AD include disease-specific biomarkers (i.e., amyloid and tau) reflecting the neuropathological changes in AD. However, little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of apraxia in patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology.

What this study adds

In a well-defined sample of patients with evidence of Alzheimer’s pathology based on positive amyloid and tau biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or positron emission tomography (PET), apraxic deficits are common, show differential patterns even after controlling for general cognitive deficits, and account for variance in the severity of the patients’ general cognitive impairment.

How this study might affect research, practice or policy

This study shows that in patients with biomarker-verified Alzheimer’s pathology apraxic deficits are a relevant symptom that can predict general cognitive performance in mild to moderate disease stages.

Our results warrant further investigation into the neuropathology underlying apraxic deficits in Alzheimer’s disease by examining the relationship between apraxic deficits and regional amyloid and tau deposition in the brain.