title: Self-reported confusion is related to global and regional β-amyloid: data from the Women's healthy ageing project.
abstract: Disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) may require implementation during early stages of β-amyloid accumulation, well before patients have objective cognitive decline. In this study we aimed to assess the clinical value of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) by examining the cross-sectional relationship between β-amyloid load and SCI. Cerebral β-amyloid and SCI was assessed in a cohort of 112 cognitively normal subjects. Subjective cognition was evaluated using specific questions on memory and cognition and the MAC-Q. Participants had cerebral β-amyloid load measured with18F-Florbetaben Positron Emission Tomography (PET). No associations were found between measures of subjective memory impairment and cerebral β-amyloid. However, by self-reported confusion was predictive of a higher global β-amyloid burden (p = 0.002), after controlling for confounders. Regional analysis revealed significant associations of confusion with β-amyloid in the prefrontal region (p = 0.004), posterior cingulate and precuneus cortices (p = 0.004) and the lateral temporal lobes (p = 0.001) after controlling for confounders. An in vivo biomarker for AD pathology was associated with SCI by self-reported confusion on cross-sectional analysis. Whilst there has been a large body of research on SMC, our results indicate more research is needed to explore symptoms of confusion.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgia E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: McCluskey
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
authors.forename: Victor L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Villemagne
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.|Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia. cszoeke@unimelb.edu.au.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia. cszoeke@unimelb.edu.au.|Institute for Health and Ageing, Melbourne, 3000, Australia. cszoeke@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Cassandra E I
authors.initials: CEI
authors.lastname: Szoeke
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003221:Confusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010465:Perception; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D057566:Self Report; D013267:Stilbenes
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013267:Stilbenes; C527756:4-(N-methylamino)-4'-(2-(2-(2-fluoroethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)stilbene
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Confusion; PET imaging; Subjective cognitive impairment; Subjective memory; β-amyloid