Mixed neuropathologies and estimated rates of clinical progression in a large autopsy sample

Willa D. Brenowitz, Rebecca A. Hubbard, C. Dirk Keene, Stephen E. Hawes, W. T. Longstreth, Randy L. Woltjer, Walter A. Kukull

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction Whether co-occurring neuropathologies interact or independently affect clinical disease progression is uncertain. We estimated rates of clinical progression and tested whether associations between clinical progression and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology (ADNP) were modified by co-occurring Lewy body disease (LBD) or vascular brain injury (VBI). Methods Linear mixed effects models evaluated longitudinal trends in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes on 2046 autopsied participants seen at a U.S. Alzheimer's Disease Center. Results Annual clinical progression was slightly faster for ADNP + LBD compared with ADNP only (P =.06) and slightly slower for ADNP + VBI (P =.003). Differences in progression were less than expected if each neuropathology independently contributed to progression; ADNP interacted with LBD (P =.002) and VBI (P =.003). In secondary models, the effect of additional pathologies on clinical progression was greater in those with intermediate compared with high levels of ADNP. Discussion The impact of co-occurring pathologies on progression may depend on severity of ADNP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)654-662
Number of pages9
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2017

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease neuropathology
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Clinical progression
  • Lewy body disease
  • Mixed neuropathology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Health Policy
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Epidemiology

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