Dataset Information

Vascular risk and A? interact to reduce cortical thickness in AD vulnerable brain regions.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective of this study was to define whether vascular risk factors interact with ?-amyloid (A?) in producing changes in brain structure that could underlie the increased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD).

Methods

Sixty-six cognitively normal and mildly impaired older individuals with a wide range of vascular risk factors were included in this study. The presence of A? was assessed using [(11)C]Pittsburgh compound B-PET imaging, and cortical thickness was measured using 3-tesla MRI. Vascular risk was measured with the Framingham Coronary Risk Profile Index.

Results

Individuals with high levels of vascular risk factors have thinner frontotemporal cortex independent of A?. These frontotemporal regions are also affected in individuals with A? deposition, but the latter show additional thinning in parietal cortices. A? and vascular risk were found to interact in posterior (especially in parietal) brain regions, where A? has its greatest effect. In this way, the negative effect of A? in posterior regions is increased by the presence of vascular risk.

Conclusion

A? and vascular risk interact to enhance cortical thinning in posterior brain regions that are particularly vulnerable to AD. These findings give insight concerning the mechanisms whereby vascular risk increases the likelihood of developing AD and supports the therapeutic intervention of controlling vascular risk for the prevention of AD.

SUBMITTER: Villeneuve S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4114172 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Vascular risk and Aβ interact to reduce cortical thickness in AD vulnerable brain regions.

Villeneuve Sylvia S Reed Bruce R BR Madison Cindee M CM Wirth Miranka M Marchant Natalie L NL Kriger Stephen S Mack Wendy J WJ Sanossian Nerses N DeCarli Charles C Chui Helena C HC Weiner Michael W MW Jagust William J WJ

Neurology 20140606 1

<h4>Objective</h4>The objective of this study was to define whether vascular risk factors interact with β-amyloid (Aβ) in producing changes in brain structure that could underlie the increased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD).<h4>Methods</h4>Sixty-six cognitively normal and mildly impaired older individuals with a wide range of vascular risk factors were included in this study. The presence of Aβ was assessed using [(11)C]Pittsburgh compound B-PET imaging, and cortical thickness was measured using ...[more]

PMID: 24907234

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