Cube copying test in combination with rCBF or CSF A beta 42 predicts development of Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to identify subjects with incipient Alzheimer's disease (AD) among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using brief cognitive tests.


METHODS
A total of 147 MCI patients were followed for 4-6 years and the incidence of AD was 11.6%/year. At baseline, the cube copying test, clock drawing test, MMSE and measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta-amyloid(1-42) (A beta (42)) were performed.


RESULTS
The cube copying test, but not the clock drawing test, could predict AD among MCI patients with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.64 (p < 0.01). The relative risk for future AD was increased in MCI subjects with impaired cube copying test (sex- and age-adjusted hazard ratio = 1.8, p < 0.05) and the incidence of AD was 18.2% in this subgroup. Combining the cube copying test with either rCBF or CSF A beta(42) had additive effects on the risk assessment for future development of AD. MCI patients achieving high scores on both MMSE and cube copying test had a very low risk of developing AD (incidence of AD = 1.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, combinations of the cube copying test with MMSE, rCBF and CSF A beta (42) measurements can identify subgroups of MCI subjects with either substantially reduced or increased risk for future development of AD.
Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Peder
P
Buchhave
Erik
E
Stomrud
Siegbert
S
Warkentin
Kaj
K
Blennow
Lennart
L
Minthon
Oskar
O
Hansson
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)