Severity of Subjective Cognitive Complaints and Worries in Older Adults Are Associated With Cerebral Amyloid-β Load

Abstract

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is considered an early risk stage for dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the development of pathological brain changes, such as the aggregation of amyloid-beta (amyloid-beta) plaques. This study evaluates the association between specific features of SCD and cerebral amyloid-beta load measured by positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18-florbetaben in 40 cognitively normal older individuals. Global amyloid-beta, as well as regional amyloid-beta load for the frontal, temporal, parietal, and cingulate cortex, was quantified. Specific features of SCD, such as subjective cognitive complaints and worry, were assessed using the 39-item Everyday Cognition Scales and the 16-item Penn State Worry Questionnaire. Spearman's rank partial correlation analyses, adjusted for age and apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 status, were conducted to test the associations between specific features of SCD and cerebral amyloid-beta load. The severity of subjective cognitive complaints in everyday memory and organization was positively correlated with amyloid-beta load in the frontal cortex. In addition, the severity of subjective cognitive complaints in everyday planning was positively correlated with amyloid-beta load in the parietal cortex. Higher levels of worry were associated with higher amyloid-beta load in the frontal cortex. After correction of the PET data for partial volume effects, these associations were reduced to trend level. In conclusion, the severity of subjective cognitive complaints and the level of trait worry were positively associated with cortical amyloid-beta burden, particularly in the frontal and parietal cortex. Further studies are required to elucidate the direction of these associations in order to develop strategies to prevent amyloid deposition and cognitive decline.