Cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy accelerates cognitive decline via cortical thinning: The moderating role of amyloid-β pathology in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cholinergic basal forebrain (cBF) atrophy is a critical early marker of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). While cBF degeneration is linked to cognitive decline, the role of cortical thinning in this process, especially during the preclinical phase of AD, remains underexplored. Additionally, the impact of amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology on these relationships warrants further examination.

Methods

We analyzed longitudinal structural MRI and PIB-PET data from 230 cognitively normal older adults enrolled in the Harvard Aging Brain Study, with a mean follow-up of six years. cBF volume and cortical thickness were quantified using FreeSurfer. Cognitive performance was assessed with the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite-5 (PACC5). Linear mixed-effects models

SUBMITTER: Cen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627883 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature