Grey matter networks and clinical progression in subjects with pre-dementia Alzheimer’s disease.

Publication date: Available online 20 September 2017
Source:Neurobiology of Aging
Author(s): Betty M. Tijms, Mara ten Kate, Alida A. Gouw, Andreas Borta, Sander Verfaillie, Charlotte E. Teunissen, Philip Scheltens, Frederik Barkhof, Wiesje M. van der Flier
We studied whether grey matter network parameters are associated with rate of clinical progression in non-demented subjects who have abnormal amyloid markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), i.e., pre-dementia AD. Non-demented subjects (62 with subjective cognitive decline; 160 with mild cognitive impairment; age = 68±8 years; MMSE = 28±2.4) were selected from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort when they had abnormal amyloid CSF levels (<640 pg/ml). Networks were extracted from grey matter structural MRI, and nine parameters were calculated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test associations between each connectivity predictor and the rate of progression to mild cognitive impairment or dementia. After a median time of 2.2 years (1.4-3.1), 122 (55%) subjects showed clinical progression. Lower network parameter values were associated with increased risk for progression, with the strongest Hazard Ratio of 0.29 for clustering (95%CI =0.12 - 0.70; p<.01). Results remained significant after correcting for tau, hippocampal volume and MMSE scores. Our results suggest that at pre-dementia stages, grey matter networks parameters may have use to identify subjects who will show fast clinical progression.



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