Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Mosconi L, De Santi S, Li J, Tsui W, Li Y, Boppana M, Laska E, Rusinek H, de Leon M
Journal Neurobiol Aging
Volume 29
Issue 5
Pagination 676-92
Date Published 01/11/2007
ISSN 1558-1497
Keywords Aging, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Glucose, Glucose Metabolism Disorders, Hippocampus
Abstract OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study used FDG-PET imaging to predict and monitor cognitive decline from normal aging. METHODS: Seventy-seven 50-80-year-old normal (NL) elderly received longitudinal clinical examinations over 6-14 years (561 person-years, mean per person 7.2 years). All subjects had a baseline FDG-PET scan and 55 subjects received follow-up PET exams. Glucose metabolic rates (MRglc) in the hippocampus and cortical regions were examined as predictors and correlates of clinical decline. RESULTS: Eleven NL subjects developed dementia, including six with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 19 declined to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), on average 8 years after the baseline exam. The baseline hippocampal MRglc predicted decline from NL to AD (81% accuracy), including two post-mortem confirmed cases, from NL to other dementias (77% accuracy), and from NL to MCI (71% accuracy). Greater rates of hippocampal and cortical MRglc reductions were found in the declining as compared to the non-declining NL. CONCLUSIONS: Hippocampal MRglc reductions using FDG-PET during normal aging predict cognitive decline years in advance of the clinical diagnosis. Future studies are needed to increase preclinical specificity in differentiating dementing disorders.
DOI 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.12.008
PubMed ID 17222480
PubMed Central ID PMC2430185
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