Rates of age- and amyloid β-associated cortical atrophy in older adults with superior memory performance.

2019-12

Dang, Christa

Yassi, Nawaf

Harrington, Karra D

Xia, Ying

Lim, Yen Ying

Ames, David

Laws, Simon M

Hickey, Martha

Rainey-Smith, Stephanie

Sohrabi, Hamid R

Doecke, James D

Fripp, Jurgen

Salvado, Olivier

Snyder, Peter J

Weinborn, Michael

Villemagne, Victor L

Rowe, Christopher C

Masters, Colin L

Maruff, Paul

Aging

Alzheimer's disease

Memory

Neurodegeneration

β-amyloid

Journal Article

0000-0003-3910-2453

10.1016/j.dadm.2019.05.005

Superior cognitive performance in older adults may reflect underlying resistance to age-associated neurodegeneration. While elevated amyloid β (Aβ) deposition (Aβ+) has been associated with increased cortical atrophy, it remains unknown whether "SuperAgers" may be protected from Aβ-associated neurodegeneration. Neuropsychologically defined SuperAgers (n = 172) and cognitively normal for age (n = 172) older adults from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study were case matched. Rates of cortical atrophy over 8 years were examined by SuperAger classification and Aβ status. Of the case-matched SuperAgers and cognitively normal for age older adults, 40.7% and 40.1%, respectively, were Aβ+. Rates of age- and Aβ-associated atrophy did not differ between the groups on any measure. Aβ- individuals displayed the slowest rates of atrophy. Maintenance of superior memory in late life does not reflect resistance to age- or Aβ-associated atrophy. However, those individuals who reached old age without cognitive impairment nor elevated Aβ deposition (i.e. Aβ-) displayed reduced rates of cortical atrophy.

link

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 2019; 11: 566-575

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

2352-8729