Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (Jan 2024)

Different aspects of failing to recover from proactive semantic interference predicts rate of progression from amnestic mild cognitive impairment to dementia

  • Rosie E. Curiel Cid,
  • Rosie E. Curiel Cid,
  • Elizabeth A. Crocco,
  • Elizabeth A. Crocco,
  • Ranjan Duara,
  • Ranjan Duara,
  • David Vaillancourt,
  • David Vaillancourt,
  • Breton Asken,
  • Breton Asken,
  • Melissa J. Armstrong,
  • Melissa J. Armstrong,
  • Malek Adjouadi,
  • Malek Adjouadi,
  • Mike Georgiou,
  • Michael Marsiske,
  • Michael Marsiske,
  • Wei-in Wang,
  • Wei-in Wang,
  • Monica Rosselli,
  • Monica Rosselli,
  • William W. Barker,
  • William W. Barker,
  • Alexandra Ortega,
  • Alexandra Ortega,
  • Diana Hincapie,
  • Diana Hincapie,
  • Liz Gallardo,
  • Liz Gallardo,
  • Feras Alkharboush,
  • Feras Alkharboush,
  • Steven DeKosky,
  • Steven DeKosky,
  • Glenn Smith,
  • Glenn Smith,
  • Glenn Smith,
  • David A. Loewenstein,
  • David A. Loewenstein

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1336008
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16

Abstract

Read online

IntroductionThis study investigated the role of proactive semantic interference (frPSI) in predicting the progression of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) to dementia, taking into account various cognitive and biological factors.MethodsThe research involved 89 older adults with aMCI who underwent baseline assessments, including amyloid PET and MRI scans, and were followed longitudinally over a period ranging from 12 to 55 months (average 26.05 months).ResultsThe findings revealed that more than 30% of the participants diagnosed with aMCI progressed to dementia during the observation period. Using Cox Proportional Hazards modeling and adjusting for demographic factors, global cognitive function, hippocampal volume, and amyloid positivity, two distinct aspects of frPSI were identified as significant predictors of a faster decline to dementia. These aspects were fewer correct responses on a frPSI trial and a higher number of semantic intrusion errors on the same trial, with 29.5% and 31.6 % increases in the likelihood of more rapid progression to dementia, respectively.DiscussionThese findings after adjustment for demographic and biological markers of Alzheimer’s Disease, suggest that assessing frPSI may offer valuable insights into the risk of dementia progression in individuals with aMCI.

Keywords