Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) has been associated with cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer disease, but the rate of decline varies widely between individuals. A new study by Yen Ying Lim and colleagues demonstrates that cognitive decline is faster in patients with Aβ accumulation who carry APOE*ɛ4 and BDNFMet alleles than in those carrying APOE*ɛ4 and BDNFVal/Val. APOE*ɛ4 was the strongest modulator of decline: over 4.5 years, little change was observed in patients with other APOE alleles. The results could facilitate estimation of prognosis, and have important implications for future clinical trials.
References
Lim, Y. Y. et al. APOE and BDNF polymorphisms moderate amyloid-β related cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Mol. Psychiatr. 10.1038/mp.2014.123
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Common polymorphisms in APOE and BDNF might predict cognitive decline in individuals with amyloid-β deposition. Nat Rev Neurol 10, 612 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2014.201
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2014.201
