Clinical and biomarker changes in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhuo Junjie , Zhang Yuanchao , Liu Bing , Liu Yong , Zhou Xiaoqing , Bartlett Perry F. , Jiang Tianzi ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: May 2020

IMPORTANCE

The dynamic changes of biomarkers and clinical profiles in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (SAD) are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of amyloid-β (Aβ) biomarkers on SAD by measuring the dynamic changes in biomarkers and clinical profiles in the progression of SAD.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This retrospective and longitudinal study analyzed clinical and biomarker data from 665 participants (mean follow-up 4.90 ± 2.83 years) from a subset of the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants collected from August 2005 to December 2018. By aligning the timing of the changes in the various biomarkers with the stable normal cognition (CN) baseline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD onset timepoints, we combined data from the stable CN, CN conversion to MCI (CN2MCI), and MCI conversion to AD (MCI2AD) groups to identify the trajectories associated with the progression of AD.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants were 294 CN, 69 CN2MCI, 300 MCI2AD, and 24 who converted from CN to MCI to AD (CN2MCI2AD) (of whom 22 were also included in the CN2MCI).

EXPOSURES

Amyloid-β measured by florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid assay of amyloid-β (CSF Aβ42).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The measures included the 13-item cognitive subscale of the AD Assessment Scale (ADAS13, as a clinical measure), hippocampal volume, and the fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR).

RESULTS

The CN, CN2MCI, and MCI2AD subgroups’ median (interquartile range [IQR]) annual changes in ADAS13 were (0.388 [−0.278, 0.818], 1.000 [0.239, 2.330], and 3.388 [1.750, 6.169]). The annual changes in hippocampal volume for each group were (−0.005 %ICV [−0.011, −0.001], −0.006 %ICV [−0.012, −0.002], and −0.014 %ICV [−0.021, −0.009]). The annual changes in FDG PET SUVR for each group were (−0.011 [−0.030, 0.010], −0.027 [−0.056, −0.012], and −0.039 [−0.063, 0.014]). Changes in the amyloid biomarkers were inconsistent with clinical profile changes. The annual changes in CSF Aβ42for each group were (−1.500 pg/ml [−6.000, 4.000], −2.200 [−5.667, 4.000], and −2.000 [−7.000, 2.650]) and in Aβ PET SUVR for each group were (0.004 [−0.002, 0.012], 0.004 [−0.001,0.011], and 0.005 [−0.006, 0.014]). During the stable CN and CN2MCI stages, subjects with elevated and those with normal amyloid showed no significant differences (likelihood ratio test,p< .01) in clinical measures, hippocampal volume, or FDG.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Hippocampal volume and FDG associated with clinical profiles impairment in the SAD progression. Aβ alone is not associated with clinical profiles, hippocampal volume, and FDG impairment in the preclinical stage of SAD.

Key Points

Question:What is the role of amyloid-β in dynamic changes in biomarkers and clinical profiles in the progression of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease?

Findings:The changes of the hippocampal volume and FDG that were consistent with the changes of the clinical profiles showed a non-linear change in the initial stage and an accelerated non-linear change during MCI2AD, changes in amyloid biomarkers were inconsistent with the clinical profile. Cognitively normal people with elevated or normal amyloid showed no significant differences in clinical measures, hippocampal volume, or FDG.

Meaning:Amyloid-β alone may not be used as the central index for defining the preclinical stage of SAD.