¹⁸F-florbetaben Ab imaging in mild cognitive impairment

Introduction: ¹⁸F-florbetaben and positron emission tomography were used to examine the relationships between β-amyloid (Ab) deposition, cognition, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensities in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Forty-five MCI participants were evaluated. A neocortical standardized uptake value ratio threshold ≥ 1.45 was used to discriminate high from low Aβ burden. Correlations were adjusted for age, gender and years of education. Results: High Aβ burden was found in 53% of MCI. Regression analyses showed standardized uptake value ratio (r = -0.51, P = 0.0015) and hippocampal volume (r = 0.60, P = 0.024) both contributing to episodic memory impairment in independent fashion. White matter hyperintensities correlated with nonmemory cognition, and this correlation was particularly associated with Aβ burden. Conclusion: Higher Ab deposition in MCI is associated with more severe memory impairment and is contributing to early amnestic symptoms independent of hippocampal atrophy.