Open AccessSensitivity of composite scores to amyloid burden in preclinical Alzheimer's disease: Introducing the Z‐scores of Attention, Verbal fluency, and Episodic memory for Nondemented older adults composite score
Author(s) -
Lim Yen Ying,
Snyder Peter J.,
Pietrzak Robert H.,
Ukiqi Albulene,
Villemagne Victor L.,
Ames David,
Salvado Olivier,
Bourgeat Pierrick,
Martins Ralph N.,
Masters Colin L.,
Rowe Christopher C.,
Maruff Paul
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: diagnosis, assessment and disease monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.497
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2352-8729
DOI - 10.1016/j.dadm.2015.11.003
Subject(s) - verbal fluency test , episodic memory , cognition , neuropsychology , cognitive decline , audiology , psychology , neuropsychological assessment , fluency , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , medicine , clinical psychology , gerontology , dementia , psychiatry , disease , mathematics education
Cognitive composite scores developed for preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) often consist of multiple cognitive domains as they may provide greater sensitivity to detect β‐amyloid (Aβ)–related cognitive decline than episodic memory (EM) composite scores alone. However, this has never been empirically tested. We compared the rate of cognitive decline associated with high Aβ (Aβ+) and very high Aβ (Aβ++) in cognitively normal (CN) older adults on three multidomain cognitive composite scores and one single‐domain (EM) composite score. Methods CN older adults (n = 423) underwent Aβ neuroimaging and completed neuropsychological assessments at baseline, and at 18‐, 36‐, 54‐, and 72‐month follow‐ups. Four cognitive composite scores were computed: the ADCS‐PACC (ADCS‐Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite), ADCS‐PACC without the inclusion of the mini‐mental state examination (MMSE), an EM composite, and the Z‐scores of Attention, Verbal fluency, and Episodic memory for Nondemented older adults (ZAVEN) composite. Results Compared with Aβ+ CN older adults, Aβ++ CN older adults showed faster rates of decline across all cognitive composites, with the largest decline observed for ZAVEN composite ( d = 1.07). Similarly, compared with Aβ− CN older adults, Aβ+ CN older adults also showed faster rates of cognitive decline, but only for the ADCS‐PACC no MMSE ( d = 0.43), EM ( d = 0.53), and ZAVEN ( d = 0.50) composites. Discussion Aβ‐related cognitive decline is best detected using validated neuropsychological instruments. Removal of the MMSE from the ADCS‐PACC and replacing it with a test of executive function (verbal fluency; i.e., the ZAVEN) rendered this composite more sensitive even in detecting Aβ‐related cognitive decline between Aβ+ and Aβ++ CN older adults.