Rosie E. Curiel, David A. Loewenstein*, Monica Rosselli, Ailyn Penate, Maria T. Greig-Custo, Russell M. Bauer, Salvador M. Guinjoan, Kevin S. Hanson, Chunfei Li, Gabriel Lizarraga, William W. Barker, Valeria Torres, Steven DeKosky, Malek Adjouadi and Ranjan Duara Pages 848 - 855 ( 8 )
Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that the failure to recover from the effects of proactive semantic interference [frPSI] represents an early cognitive manifestation of preclinical Alzheimer's disease. A limitation of this novel paradigm has been a singular focus on the number of targets correctly recalled, without examining co-occurring semantic intrusions [SI] that may highlight specific breakdowns in memory. </P><P> Objectives: We focused on SI and their relationship to amyloid load and regional cortical thickness among persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). </P><P> Methods: Thirty-three elders diagnosed with aMCI underwent F-18 florbetaben amyloid PET scanning with MRI scans of the brain. We measured the correlation of SI elicited on cued recall trials of the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning [LASSI-L] with mean cortical amyloid load and regional cortical thickness in AD prone regions. </P><P> Results: SI on measures sensitive to frPSI was related to greater total amyloid load and lower overall cortical thickness [CTh]. In particular, SI were highly associated with reduced CTh in the left entorhinal cortex [r=-.71; p<.001] and left medial orbital frontal lobe [r=-.64; p<.001]; together accounting for 66% of the explained variability in regression models. </P><P> Conclusion. Semantic intrusions on measures susceptible to frPSI related to greater brain amyloid load and lower cortical thickness. These findings further support the hypothesis that frPSI, as expressed by the percentage of intrusions, may be a cognitive marker of initial neurodegeneration and may serve as an early and distinguishing test for preclinical AD that may be used in primary care or clinical trial settings.
Semantic intrusions, Alzheimer’s, MCI, amyloid imaging, preclinical, mild cognitive impairment.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center on Aging, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, FL, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center on Aging, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, FL, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, Florida, FL, Wien Center for Alzheimer`s Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, FL, Wien Center for Alzheimer`s Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, FL, McKnight Brain Institute and Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, FL, FLENI Foundation, University of Buenos Aires Schools of Medicine and Psychology, Buenos Aires, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, FL, Center for Advanced Technology and Education, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, FL, Center for Advanced Technology and Education, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, FL, Wien Center for Alzheimer`s Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, FL, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, Florida, FL, McKnight Brain Institute and Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, FL, Center for Advanced Technology and Education, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, FL, Wien Center for Alzheimer`s Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, FL