Arruda, Fernanda Ponce de Leon

Objective: Our main objectives were to identify cognitive markers of progression to a more severe cognitive diagnosis, explore possible differences between ethnic groups and to correlate cognitive markers of progression with biomarkers of AD (hippocampal and entorhinal volumes) and frontal volumes (lateral orbitofrontal, medial orbitofrontal, superior frontal, and rostral middle frontal volumes). Method: 207 participants (Mage = 71.79, SD = 7.48, 123 Hispanic Americans [HA]) were followed for an average of 23 months. Participants were classified into 3 diagnostic groups (Cognitively normal [CN], mild cognitive impairment [MCI], or dementia) based on the CDR global score and the neuropsychological baseline data was used as predictors of progression status. For the CN group, the Benson Figure delayed recall was a predictor of cognitive decline, and within the MCI group, the Benson delayed recall, the HVLT immediate recall, the TMTB, category fluency, and three measures of the LASSI-L (A1 cued recall, A2 cued recall, and delayed recall) were significant predictors of progression to dementia and are suggested as cognitive markers of progression for MCI individuals. Memory cognitive markers and category fluency correlated with medial temporal lobe volumes, and the TMT-B correlated with superior frontal volume. We did not observe significant differences in cognitive markers across ethnic groups. Conclusion: we identified cognitive markers of progression for CN and for MCI diagnoses which were not different across ethnic groups. These findings contribute to literature on the early identification of individuals at risk of progression to a more severe cognitive status even within asymptomatic individuals which can facilitate a more time- and cost-effective practice that is essential to the provision of the appropriate treatment to those at higher risk of progression.

Previous studies suggested that the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ-10)
has minimal ethnic bias and that a shorter version (FAQ-6) can equally diagnose MCI
and dementia. Objective: We analyzed whether FAQ-6 is similar to FAQ-10 in
diagnosing MCI and dementia. We examined their applicability across European
Americans (EA) and Hispanic Americans, and how scores correlated to beta amyloid.
Method: 222 participants (116 EA) completed a neuropsychological battery, FAQ, and
PET scans, and were classified as cognitively normal (CN), MCI, or dementia. The
diagnostic capacity of FAQ-10 and FAQ-6 were compared for the total sample and across
ethnic groups. Scores were correlated to beta amyloid. Results: Both versions showed
good item discrimination. Ethnicity did not affect scores when controlling for diagnosis
and education. Both versions classified CN and dementia, and positively correlated to
beta amyloid. Conclusions: Results suggest FAQ-6 and FAQ-10 similarly predict
diagnosis and is adequate in these ethnic groups.