Deficits in short-term memory binding are detectable in individuals with brain amyloid deposition in the absence of overt neurodegeneration in the Alzheimer's disease continuum

Mario Amore Cecchini, Mônica Sanches Yassuda, Paula Squarzoni, Artur Martins Coutinho, Daniele de Paula Faria, Fábio Luiz de Souza Duran, Naomi Antunes da Costa, Fábio Henrique de Gobbi Porto, Ricardo Nitrini, Orestes Vicente Forlenza, Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki, Carlos Alberto Buchpiguel, Mario A. Parra, Geraldo F. Busatto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
43 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The short-term memory binding (STMB) test involves the ability to hold in memory the integration between surface features, such as shapes and colours. The STMB test has been used to detect Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at different stages, from preclinical to dementia, showing promising results. The objective of the present study was to verify whether the STMB test could differentiate patients with distinct biomarker profiles in the AD continuum. The sample comprised 18 cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants, 30 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 23 AD patients. All participants underwent positron emission tomography (PET) with Pittsburgh compound-B labelled with carbon-11 ([11C]PIB) assessing amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation (A) and 18fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG)-PET assessing neurodegeneration (N) (A−N− [n = 35]); A+N− [n = 11]; A+ N+ [n = 19]). Participants who were negative and positive for amyloid deposition were compared in the absence (A−N− vs. A+N−) of neurodegeneration. When compared with the RAVLT and SKT memory tests, the STMB was the only cognitive task that differentiated these groups, predicting the group outcome in logistic regression analyses. The STMB test showed to be sensitive to the signs of AD pathology and may represent a cognitive marker within the AD continuum.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBrain and Cognition
Volume152
Early online date19 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Aug 2021

Funding

This research was funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) reference numbers 2012/50329-6, 14/50873-3, 16/50197-3 and 16/07967-2; National Council for Scientific and Technologic in Development (CNPq) in Brazil reference numbers 465412/2014-9 and 304548/2018-9. PS and MSY were supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technologic in Development (CNPq) in Brazil (grant numbers 88887.137488/2017-00 and 304548/2018-9, respectively).

Keywords

  • Alzheimer disease
  • short-term memory binding
  • PET
  • biomarkers
  • amyloid
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • Short Term Memory Binding Test
  • neurodegeneration

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Deficits in short-term memory binding are detectable in individuals with brain amyloid deposition in the absence of overt neurodegeneration in the Alzheimer's disease continuum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this