Prevalence and prognostic value of CSF markers of Alzheimer's disease pathology in patients with subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment in the DESCRIPA study: a prospective cohort study

SummaryBackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is common in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) without dementia, but the prevalence of AD pathology in patients with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (naMCI) is unknown. AD is characterised by decreased CSF concentrations of Aβ42 and increased concentrations of tau. We investigated the prevalence of a CSF AD profile in patients with SCI, naMCI, or aMCI and the association of this profile with cognitive outcome in each group.MethodsPatients with SCI, naMCI, aMCI, and neurologically healthy controls were recruited from 20 memory clinics across Europe, between January, 2003, and June, 2005, into this prospective cohort study. A CSF AD profile was defined as an abnormal ratio of Aβ42:tau. Patients were assessed annually up to 3 years. Outcome measures were changes in memory, overall cognition, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, daily function, and progression to AD-type dementia.FindingsThe CSF AD profile was more common in patients with SCI (31 of 60 [52%]), naMCI (25 of 37 [68%]), and aMCI (56 of 71 [79%]) than in healthy controls (28 of 89 [31%]). The profile was associated with cognitive decline in patients with naMCI (memory, MMSE, and daily function) and in patients with aMCI (MMSE and daily function). In patients with aMCI, a CSF AD profile was predictive of AD-type dementia (OR 26·8, 95% CI 1·6–456·4).InterpretationAD is a common cause of SCI, naMCI, and aMCI and is associated with cognitive decline in patients with naMCI or aMCI. Patients with SCI might be in the early stages of AD, and cognitive decline might become apparent only after longer follow-up.FundingEuropean Commission; Ana Aslan International Foundation.