The Relationship Between Neuropsychological Functioning, Biomarker AV-1451, and Subjective Memory Impairment in a Cognitively Normal Sample

<p>Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is often a prodromal stage for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) development, with those diagnosed with MCI at increased risk for developing AD. The present study aimed to provide data to support a prodromal stage of MCI via analysis utilizing the neuropsychological domain of memory, subjective memory impairment (SMI), and the PET tau biomarker, AV-1451. It was hypothesized that individuals with SMI would differ significantly from participants without SMI (nSMI) on measures of memory and level of tau binding in the entorhinal cortices and the hippocampi. It was further hypothesized that differences in memory would be mediated by level (high/low) of binding in these neuroanatomical structures. The sample included 127 cognitively normal (CN) participants, selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease neuroimaging Initiative 3. Participants were cognitively normal, free from co-morbid disorders such as depression, and included individuals who had undergone PET imaging at baseline testing. Results found no significant differences between memory scores for SMI or nSMI participants, nor were there significant differences between groups on tau standardized uptake value ratios. There were significant main effects for tau level and location (left/right entorhinal cortices and left/right hippocampi) for the Wechsler Memory Scale-IV Logical Memory I test, and in the left entorhinal cortex for Logical Memory II. Current findings support differences in level of AV-1451 tau binding for story memory. The data provides a baseline for future researchers to utilize the cognitive measure of story memory in conjunction with tau level to develop a neuropsychological profile for individuals who may benefit from earlier intervention to slow progression of neurodegenerative decline.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Public Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Reale-Caldwell, AmberRose

Contributors dc:contributor

• Elizabeth Lane, PhD
• Eric Rosen, PhD

• Alzheimer's
• Cognitively Normal
• Tau
• Neuropsychology
• Subjective Memory Impairment
• Clinical Psychology
• Other Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/447

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-1486