Functional-Cognitive Marker of Preclinical AD

 
   Lead Investigator:    Joyce Zhu
   Institution      :    Vanderbilt University
   E-Mail           :    joyce.y.zhu@vanderbilt.edu
   Proposal ID      :    297



   Proposal Description:
   The purpose of this project is to identify a functional-cognitive marker in light of new 2011 NIA clinical criteria that incorporate a fuller spectrum of cognitive aging, including a preclinical stage that precedes MCI and AD.  There is increasing interest in a ???profile??? of preclinical AD that effectively predicts impending cognitive and functional deterioration. The theoretical impetus arrives from the need to understand how cognitive scores on neuropsychological tests corresponds to functional outcomes. How and to what extent does subtle impairment on cognitive scores implicate early deterioration in functional capacity? Previous NACC data analysis showed that early impairment in Digit-Symbol substitution was a possible marker of asymptomatic/preclinical AD. Of interest is whether Digit-Symbol impairment predicts an early functional change in activities of daily living (e.g impairment in doing taxes, etc), or helps neuropsychologists provide clinical prescriptions (e.g no driving).  The correspondence between cognitive and functional assessments is important for strengthening the utility of early markers of preclinical/asymptomatic AD.