| Autor: |
Rabelo AG; 1 NeuroImage Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil., Teixeira CV; 1 NeuroImage Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil., Magalhães TN; 1 NeuroImage Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil., Carletti-Cassani AFM; 1 NeuroImage Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil., Amato Filho AC; 3 Department of Radiology, UNICAMP, Brazil., Joaquim HP; 4 Laboratorio de Neurociencias (LIM27), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil., Talib LL; 4 Laboratorio de Neurociencias (LIM27), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil., Forlenza O; 4 Laboratorio de Neurociencias (LIM27), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil., Ribeiro PA; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil.; 5 Department of Medical Genetics, UNICAMP, Brazil., Secolin R; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil.; 5 Department of Medical Genetics, UNICAMP, Brazil., Lopes-Cendes I; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil.; 5 Department of Medical Genetics, UNICAMP, Brazil., Cendes F; 1 NeuroImage Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil., Balthazar ML; 1 NeuroImage Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.; 2 Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Introduction The search for a reliable neuroimaging biomarker in Alzheimer's disease is a matter of intense research. The presence of cerebral microbleeds seems to be a potential biomarker. However, it is not clear if the presence of microbleeds has clinical usefulness to differentiate mild Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment from normal aging. We aimed to verify if microbleed prevalence differs among three groups: mild Alzheimer's disease, amnestic mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease, and normal controls. Moreover, we studied whether microbleeds were associated with apolipoprotein E allele ɛ4 status, cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-beta, total and phosphorylated tau protein levels, vascular factors, and cognition. Methods Twenty-eight mild Alzheimer's disease patients, 34 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 36 cognitively normal elderly subjects underwent: magnetic resonance imaging with a susceptibility-weighted imaging sequence on a 3T scanner, apolipoprotein E genotyping and a full neuropsychological evaluation. Only amnestic mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease underwent cerebrospinal fluid analysis. We compared the groups and verified if microbleeds were predicted by all other variables. Results Mild Alzheimer's disease presented a higher prevalence of apolipoprotein E allele ɛ4 in relation to amnestic mild cognitive impairment and control group. No significant differences were found between groups when considering microbleed presence. Logistic regression tests failed to find any relationship between microbleeds and the variables. We performed three different regression models using different independent variables: Model 1 - amyloid-beta, phosphorylated tau protein, total tau, apolipoprotein E allele ɛ4 status, age, and sex; Model 2 - vascular risk factors, age, and sex; Model 3 - cognitive scores sex, age, and education. Conclusion Although microbleeds might be related to the Alzheimer's disease process, their presence is not a good candidate for a neuroimaging biomarker of the disease, especially in its early phases. |
