β-Amyloid burden in healthy aging: regional distribution and cognitive consequences.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Several lines of evidence suggest that pathologic changes underlying Alzheimer disease (AD) begin years prior to the clinical expression of the disease, underscoring the need for studies of cognitively healthy adults to capture these early changes. The overall goal of the current study was to map the cortical distribution of β-amyloid (Aβ) in a healthy adult lifespan sample (aged 30-89), and to assess the relationship between elevated amyloid and cognitive performance across multiple domains.

Methods

A total of 137 well-screened and cognitively normal adults underwent Aβ PET imaging with radiotracer (18)F-florbetapir. Aβ load was estimated from 8 cortical regions. Participants were genotyped for APOE and tested for processing speed, working memory, fluid reasoning,

SUBMITTER: Rodrigue KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3280058 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature