Grey matter and cognitive patterns in cognitive impaired subjects using CSF biomarker cut-offs

J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;29(4):741-9. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2012-111553.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate brain tissue volumes, grey matter (GM) distribution, and cognitive performance for cognitively impaired subjects using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker cut-offs as grouping criteria. 41 subjects attending the Memory Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden, were divided into groups based on normal or abnormal CSF levels of Aβ1-42, t-tau, and p-tau181. SIENAX algorithms were employed for brain tissue volumes estimation and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for mapping the differences in GM patterns. VBM revealed significant lower GM volumes in temporo-parietal, occipital, and prefrontal cortices for those subjects belonging to abnormal CSF t-tau and p-tau181 groups. No differences were found between groups according to CSF Aβ1-42 cut-offs. Patients with abnormal CSF p-tau181 showed lower cognitive performance compared to those with normal levels. Patients with abnormal levels of CSF tau (but not Aβ1-42) showed an Alzheimer's disease-like pattern for both GM distribution and cognitive profile, compared to those with normal levels. These results support the hypothesis that CSF t-tau or p-tau181 levels may be of direct value for the evaluation of disease severity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cognition Disorders / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Cognition Disorders / genetics
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Peptide Fragments / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • tau Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Biomarkers
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • tau Proteins