Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThis study applies a novel algorithm to longitudinal amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to identify age-heterogeneous amyloid trajectory groups, estimate the age and duration (chronicity) of amyloid positivity, and investigate chronicity in relation to cognitive decline and tau burden.\n\nMETHODSCognitively unimpaired participants (n=257) underwent 1-4 amyloid PET scans. Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to participants with longitudinal scans (n=171) to identify and model amyloid trajectory groups, which were combined with Bayes theorem to estimate age and chronicity of amyloid positivity. Relationships between chronicity, cognition, clinical progression and tau PET (MK-6240) were investigated using regression models.\n\nRESULTSChronicity explained more heterogeneity in amyloid binding than age and binary amyloid status. Chronicity was associated with faster cognitive decline, increased risk of abnormal cognition, and higher entorhinal tau.\n\nDISCUSSIONAmyloid chronicity provides unique information about cognitive decline and neurofibrillary tangle development and may be useful to investigate preclinical AD.