Cortical thickness changes precede high levels of amyloid by at least seven years.

ABSTRACT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is now defined based on its underlying brain pathology¹, with the presence of amyloid (Aβ) plaques at high enough levels sufficient to warrant a diagnosis in the absence of cognitive symptoms. High levels of PET-detectable Aβ are widely thought to be the first imaging marker, with structural brain changes detectable on MRI scans thought to occur later. We combined 4570 longitudinal MRIs and 1684 Aβ PET scans from three cognitively healthy cohorts to test the difference in cortical thickness and its change between those that subsequently converted to be Aβ-positive or stayed Aβ-negative, using MRIs acquired exclusively in the years before conversion. We found those that subsequently developed elevated Aβ levels show both thicker cortex and less cortical t

SUBMITTER: Roe JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12393315 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature