F-18-florbetaben A beta imaging in mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

F-florbetaben and positron emission tomography were used to examine the relationships between b-amyloid (Ab) deposition, cognition, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensities in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods: Forty-five MCI participants were evaluated. A neocortical standardized uptake value ratio threshold ≥ 1.45 was used to discriminate high from low Ab burden. Correlations were adjusted for age, gender and years of education.Results: High A b burden was found in 53% of MCI. Regression analyses showed standardized uptake value ratio (r= -0.51,P= 0.0015) and hippocampal volume (r= 0.60,P= 0.024) both contributing to episodic memory impairment in independent fashion. White matter hyperintensities correlated with nonmemory cognition, and this correlation was particularly associated with Ab burden.Conclusion: Higher Ab deposition in MCI is associated with more severe memory impairment and is contributing to early amnestic symptoms independent of hippocampal atrophy.