Diffusion MRI Relates to Plasma Aβ42/40 in PET Negative Participants Without Dementia

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2024 Mar 5

PMID 38441274

Authors

Jesse C DeSimone

Wei-En Wang

David A Loewenstein

Ranjan Duara

Glenn E Smith

Karen N McFarland

Melissa J Armstrong

Darren M Weber

Warren Barker

Stephen A Coombes

David E Vaillancourt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers are needed for indexing early biological stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), such as plasma amyloid-β (Aβ42/40) positivity in Aβ positron emission tomography (PET) negative individuals.

Methods: Diffusion free-water (FW) MRI was acquired in individuals with normal cognition (NC) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with Aβ plasma-/PET- (NC = 22, MCI = 60), plasma+/PET- (NC = 5, MCI = 20), and plasma+/PET+ (AD dementia = 21) biomarker status. Gray and white matter FW and fractional anisotropy (FAt) were compared cross-sectionally and the relationships between imaging, plasma and PET biomarkers were assessed.

Results: Plasma+/PET- demonstrated increased FW (24 regions) and decreased FAt (66 regions) compared to plasma-/PET-. FW (16 regions) and FAt (51 regions) were increased in plasma+/PET+ compared to plasma+/PET-. Composite brain FW correlated with plasma Aβ42/40 and p-tau181.

Discussion: FW imaging changes distinguish plasma Aβ42/40 positive and negative groups, independent of group differences in cognitive status, Aβ PET status, and other plasma biomarkers (i.e., t-tau, p-tau181, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light).

Highlights: Plasma Aβ42/40 positivity is associated with brain microstructure decline. Plasma+/PET- demonstrated increased FW in 24 total GM and WM regions. Plasma+/PET- demonstrated decreased FAt in 66 total GM and WM regions. Whole-brain FW correlated with plasma Aβ42/40 and p-tau181 measures. Plasma+/PET- demonstrated decreased cortical volume and thickness.

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Diffusion MRI relates to plasma Aβ42/40 in PET negative participants without dementia.

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PMID: 38441274 PMC: 11032550. DOI: 10.1002/alz.13693.

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