title: Predictors of cognitive change from preclinical to clinical Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: We examined individual-difference variables in relation to the rate of change in global cognitive performance, measured by the MMSE, from 3 years prior to diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) to the time of diagnosis. The population-based sample consisted of 230 incident AD persons who were followed over a 3-year interval. The average annual decline in MMSE was 1.81 points. Being older and acquiring additional diseases during the 3 years preceding diagnosis predicted a faster rate of decline in global cognitive functioning. However, other individual difference variables such as sex, education, depression, vitamin levels (vitamin B12 and folic acid), apolipoprotein status, and social network did not precipitate the rate of decline in the preclinical phase of AD.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fratiglioni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Backman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors