2008 November ; 65(11): 1509–1517. doi:10.1001/archneur.65.11.1509. | Howard Jay Aizenstein, MD, PhD, Robert D. Nebes, PhD, Judith A. Saxton, PhD, Julie C. Price, PhD, Chester A. Mathis, PhD, Nicholas D. Tsopelas, MD, Scott K. Ziolk, MS, Jeffrey A. James, BS, Beth E. Snitz, PhD, Patricia R. Houck, MS, Wenzhu Bi, MS, Ann D. Cohen, PhD, Brian J. Lopresti, BS, Steven T. DeKosky, MD, Edythe M. Halligan, MA, and William E. Klunk, MD, PhD
This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of amyloid deposition in a clinically unimpaired elderly population using Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and its relationship to cognitive function. The study included 43 participants aged 65 to 88 years who did not meet diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. PiB PET imaging was performed, and Logan graphical analysis was used to estimate regional PiB retention distribution volume ratios (DVRs). The results showed that 9 (21%) of the participants had evidence of early amyloid deposition in at least one brain area. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics or neurocognitive performance between amyloid-positive and amyloid-negative participants. The study concluded that amyloid deposition can be identified in cognitively normal elderly individuals, and the prevalence of asymptomatic amyloid deposition may be similar to that of symptomatic amyloid deposition. However, the findings need to be replicated in larger cohorts, and longitudinal follow-up is required to support the potential of PiB imaging in identifying preclinical Alzheimer's disease.This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of amyloid deposition in a clinically unimpaired elderly population using Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and its relationship to cognitive function. The study included 43 participants aged 65 to 88 years who did not meet diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. PiB PET imaging was performed, and Logan graphical analysis was used to estimate regional PiB retention distribution volume ratios (DVRs). The results showed that 9 (21%) of the participants had evidence of early amyloid deposition in at least one brain area. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics or neurocognitive performance between amyloid-positive and amyloid-negative participants. The study concluded that amyloid deposition can be identified in cognitively normal elderly individuals, and the prevalence of asymptomatic amyloid deposition may be similar to that of symptomatic amyloid deposition. However, the findings need to be replicated in larger cohorts, and longitudinal follow-up is required to support the potential of PiB imaging in identifying preclinical Alzheimer's disease.