Objective

Subtle deficits in several cognitive domains characterize the neuropsychological profile of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Assessment of preclinical individuals with genes causing autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) provides a model for prodromal disease. We sought to sensitively evaluate attention and working memory using a computerized battery in non-demented persons carrying ADAD mutations.

Method

A total of 71 non-demented Latinos at-risk for ADAD mutations were recruited [40 mutation carriers (MCs), 31 non-mutation carriers (NCs)] and completed a Spanish language chronometric battery of speeded decision and working memory tasks.

Results

On two complex reaction time (RT) tasks involving decision-making and response inhibition, MCs exhibited slower RTs than NCs as they approached their anticipated age of dementia diagnosis. Education moderated these effects, but only in younger MCs. APOE ε4 status was not associated with age-related slowing among NCs or MCs on any of the tests.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate MCs respond more slowly as they approach the age of dementia onset on tasks with greater demands on executive function. Our results also suggest these effects were not explained by APOE ε4 status independently of ADAD mutation status. Computerized reaction time tests can provide sensitive measures of the earliest cognitive changes in AD.

中文翻译：

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常染色体显性阿尔茨海默病的反应时间和反应抑制

客观的

几个认知领域的细微缺陷是临床前阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 的神经心理学特征的特征。对具有导致常染色体显性遗传 AD (ADAD) 基因的临床前个体的评估为前驱疾病提供了一个模型。我们试图使用计算机化电池对携带 ADAD 突变的非痴呆患者的注意力和工作记忆进行敏感评估。

方法

共招募了 71 名有 ADAD 突变风险的非痴呆拉丁裔 [40 名突变携带者 (MC)、31 名非突变携带者 (NC)] 并完成了西班牙语计时电池组的快速决策和工作记忆任务。

结果

在涉及决策制定和反应抑制的两项复杂反应时间 (RT) 任务中，当 MC 接近预期的痴呆诊断年龄时，其 RT 比 NC 慢。教育缓和了这些影响，但仅限于年轻的 MC。在任何测试中， APOE ε4 状态与 NC 或 MC 中与年龄相关的减慢无关。

结论

我们的研究结果表明，当 MC 在对执行功能要求更高的任务中接近痴呆发病年龄时，它们的反应会更慢。我们的研究结果还表明， APOE ε4 状态并不能独立于 ADAD 突变状态来解释这些影响。计算机化反应时间测试可以提供对 AD 最早认知变化的敏感测量。