Tamare V. Adrien (United States of America)
University of Florida
Clinical and Health Psychology
Tamare is a third-year graduate student at the University of Florida and is currently the recipient of an NIH ADRD T32 fellowship. Her current research and clinical interests are in cross-cultural clinical neuropsychology, with a primary focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). Specifically, she is interested in 1) developing a better understanding of the ways in which social determinants of health impact the onset and progression of ADRDs in minoritized populations and 2) investigating how health disparities impact quality of life and access to resources for lower-income aging adults with cognitive complaints.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

WHITE MATTER HYPERINTENSITIES AND FUNCTIONAL ABILITY: HOW DO CSF BIOMARKERS AND COGNITIVE MEASURES MEDIATE THIS RELATIONSHIP?

Session Name
6740 - FLUID, IMAGING AND DIGITAL MARKERS (ID 106)
Session Type
SYMPOSIUM
Date
Sat, 09.03.2024
Session Time
08:40 - 10:40
Room
Auditorium VIII
Presenter
Lecture Time
10:10 - 10:25

Abstract

Aims

Increased white matter hyperintensities (WMH) has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD); amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau pathologies, memory, and executive dysfunction have also been linked to AD. A hallmark of AD is a decline in activities of daily living, yet the assocation between WMH and functional decline remains unclear. The present study examined whether CSF biomarkers and cognitive measures mediate the relationship between WMH and functional ability.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was conducted with 361 ADNI participants. Multiple mediation analyses assessed direct and indirect effects of WMH on functional ability through CSF biomarkers and cognitive measures.

Results

WMH had a significant indirect effect on FAQ through the serial mediating effects of Aβ and tau as well as Aβ, tau, and memory, thereby supporting the first two hypotheses. The third hypothesis was not supported as the inclusion of executive function in the serial mediation did not render a significant indirect effect for the WMH-FAQ relationship. Results from the indirect effect models indicated that the mediating effect of Aβ as well as the serial mediation of Aβ and memory, were key mediators that may influence the relationship between WMH and FAQ.

Conclusions

Results from the current study supported the first two hypothesized models of the link between WMH and FAQ, through Aβ and tau and through Aβ, tau, and memory. Outcomes from the indirect effects of the mediation further indicated that higher WMH burden may impact functional ability at the very early stages of AD (mild AD) through Aβ alone, or the joint effect of Aβ and subsequent memory impairment. More research is needed in understanding how these key mediators explain this relationship in the context of disease progression.

Hide