Sensory impairment and beta‐amyloid deposition in the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging
Lekha V. Yesantharao, Yurun Cai, Jennifer A. Schrack, Alden L. Gross, Hang Wang, Murat Bilgel, Ryan J. Dougherty, Eleanor M. Simonsick, Luigi Ferrucci, Susan M. Resnick, Yuri Agrawal
Abstract
Introduction: Beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaque deposition is a biomarker of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). Impairments in sensory function are associated with cognitive decline. We sought to investigate the relationship between PET-indicated Aβ deposition and sensory impairment. Methods: Using data from 174 participants ≥55 years in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we analyzed associations between sensory impairments and Aβ deposition measured by PET and Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) mean cortical distribution volume ratio (cDVR). Results: = 0.018, respectively). In stratified analyses of PiB+ participants, combinations of two, three, and four sensory impairments (all involving proprioception) were associated with higher cDVR. Discussion: Our findings suggest a relationship between multi-sensory impairment (notably proprioceptive impairment) and Aβ deposition, which could reflect sensory impairment as an indicator or potentially a risk factor for Aβ deposition.