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Review
. 1996 Nov 26;93(24):13547-51.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.24.13547.

Cognitive and neurobiologic markers of early Alzheimer disease

M S Albert  1
Affiliations
Review

Cognitive and neurobiologic markers of early Alzheimer disease

M S Albert. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that impairments in two cognitive domains characterize the cognitive abnormalities that appear earliest in the course of Alzheimer disease (AD). These cognitive domains pertain to memory and executive function ability; in particular, memory test scores reflecting the difference between immediate and delayed recall and tasks that assess cognitive flexibility (e.g., set-shifting). Preliminary data indicate that tasks of this nature, along with specific genetic information (i.e., APOE-4 status), are important in identifying which individuals with recent cognitive changes (considered to have "questionable" disease) will progress to the point where they meet criteria for AD over time. When this cognitive and genetic information is combined with neuroimaging measures targeted at the brain regions demonstrating pathology early in AD, it may serve as specific and accurate prognostic markers of AD.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Performance on the recognition portion of the DRST. The groups compared are normal controls (N), patients with AD (AD), patients with HD (HD), and patients with alcoholic KS (KS).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The difference between immediate and delayed recall on the verbal recall portion of the DRST. The groups compared are normal controls (N), patients with AD (AD), patients with HD (HD), and patients with alcoholic KS (KS).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Verbal and nonverbal memory performance on the Wechsler memory scale (i.e., the logical memory and visual reproduction subtests). The groups compared are patients with AD (AD) and patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The difference between immediate and delayed recall on the verbal recall portion of the DRST. The groups compared are patients with AD (AD) and patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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