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Diseases

Divergent Effects of Age on Imaging-Based Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted at the University of Freiburg has unveiled significant insights into the relationship between age and biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease. Investigators from the university's Department of Nuclear Medicine analyzed data from 2,355 patients with Alzheimer's disease, shedding light on the divergent effects of age on imaging-based biomarkers and cognition. The study's findings highlight the complex interplay between age, biomarkers, and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study investigated the association between age, biomarkers, and cognition in Alzheimer's disease patients, with a focus on the amyloid beta deposition, pathologic tau, and neurodegeneration (ATN) scheme.
  • The research found that amyloid beta load as a biomarker of pathology burden was not associated with age at first visit to a memory clinic.
  • Tau burden was higher, and glucose metabolism was lower in younger Alzheimer's disease patients, while medial temporal lobe atrophy was less severe in younger patients.
  • Younger AD patients showed more severe memory deficits with respect to age-appropriate normative data.
  • Age had no moderating effect on relationships between different imaging variables or between single imaging variables and cognition.
  • Biomarkers for tau burden and hypometabolism were more severe in younger patients, while gray matter volume of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) was reduced to a greater extent in older patients.
  • Direct and moderating effects of age on ATN biomarkers and cognition were assessed using positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging, and cognitive assessments.

Statistics:

  • 2,355 AD patients were included in the study.
  • The sample consisted of 190/63/252/687/2198 patients for imaging modalities of amyloid beta, tau burden, glucose metabolism, gray matter volume of the MTL, ATN biomarkers, and cognition, respectively.
  • 2355 is the total number of AD patients evaluated in the study.
  • The research was conducted at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg.

Sources:

  • Divergent effects of age on imaging-based ATN biomarkers and cognition in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 2025,17(3):n/a-n/a.
  • The publisher for Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring is Wiley.
  • A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/dad2.70142.
  • Additional authors for this research include Sabine Hellwig, Joachim Brumberg, Alexander Rau, Michael Mix, Ganna Blazhenets, Horst Urbach, Philipp T. Meyer.

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