Abstract
Introduction: Superior cognitive performance in older adults may reflect underlying resistance to age-associated neurodegeneration. While elevated amyloid b (Ab) deposition (Ab1) has been associated with increased cortical atrophy, it remains unknown whether “SuperAgers” may be protected from Ab-associated neurodegeneration. Methods: Neuropsychologically defined SuperAgers (n 5 172) and cognitively normal for age (n 5 172) 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 Ab status. Results: Of the case-matched SuperAgers and cognitively normal for age older adults, 40.7% and 40.1%, respectively, were Ab1. Rates of age- and Ab-associated atrophy did not differ between the groups on any measure. Ab2 individuals displayed the slowest rates of atrophy. Discussion: Maintenance of superior memory in late life does not reflect resistance to age- or Abassociated atrophy. However, those individuals who reached old age without cognitive impairment nor elevated Ab deposition (i.e. Ab2) displayed reduced rates of cortical atrophy.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2019
Publication Title
Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
29990
Funders
Funding information available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadm.2019.05.005
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Dang, C., Yassi, N., Harrington, K. D., Xia, Y., Lim, Y. Y., Ames, D., ... Maruff, P. (2019). Rates of age-and amyloid β-associated cortical atrophy in older adults with superior memory performance. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 11, 566-575. Available here