Publication date: December 2019
Source: Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, Volume 11
Author(s): Christa Dang, Nawaf Yassi, Karra D. Harrington, Ying Xia, Yen Ying Lim, David Ames, Simon M. Laws, Martha Hickey, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Hamid R. Sohrabi, James D. Doecke, Jurgen Fripp, Olivier Salvado, Peter J. Snyder, Michael Weinborn, Victor L. Villemagne, Christopher C. Rowe, Colin L. Masters, Paul Maruff, Brian Chambers
Abstract
Introduction
Superior cognitive performance in older adults may reflect underlying resistance to age-associated neurodegeneration. While elevated amyloid β (Aβ) deposition (Aβ+) has been associated with increased cortical atrophy, it remains unknown whether “SuperAgers” may be protected from Aβ-associated neurodegeneration.
Methods
Neuropsychologically defined SuperAgers (n = 172) and cognitively normal for age (n = 172) older adults from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study were case matched. Rates of cortical atrophy over 8 years were examined by SuperAger classification and Aβ status.
Results
Of the case-matched SuperAgers and cognitively normal for age older adults, 40.7% and 40.1%, respectively, were Aβ+. Rates of age- and Aβ-associated atrophy did not differ between the groups on any measure. Aβ− individuals displayed the slowest rates of atrophy.
Discussion
Maintenance of superior memory in late life does not reflect resistance to age- or Aβ-associated atrophy. However, those individuals who reached old age without cognitive impairment nor elevated Aβ deposition (i.e. Aβ−) displayed reduced rates of cortical atrophy.