Premium
The neuropsychology of normal aging and preclinical Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Caselli Richard J.,
Locke Dona E.C.,
Dueck Amylou C.,
Knopman David S.,
Woodruff Bryan K.,
HoffmanSnyder Charlene,
Rademakers Rosa,
Fleisher Adam S.,
Reiman Eric M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.01.004
Subject(s) - apolipoprotein e , neuropsychology , dementia , alzheimer's disease , psychology , cognition , disease , neuropsychological test , medicine , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , oncology , gerontology , neuroscience
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.