This paper explores the trajectory of amyloid accumulation onset in the brain relative to cognitive decline to potentially improve secondary prevention efforts of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This was...Show moreThis paper explores the trajectory of amyloid accumulation onset in the brain relative to cognitive decline to potentially improve secondary prevention efforts of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This was accomplished by attempting a replication of the study "Spatiotemporal distribution of β-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease is the result of heterogeneous carrying capacities" (Whittington et al., 2018) using data obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. Results showed that Whittington’s model of the temporal evolution of the in vivo PET β-amyloid signal over time (i.e. using the four parameters: the tracer nonspecific binding (NS), the exponential uninhibited growth rate (r), the time of half-maximal β -amyloid concentration (T50) and the carrying capacity (K)), and the derived “estimated time since disease onset” could be used to model β-amyloid accumulation trajectory. Additionally, by studying the relationship between the trajectory of amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline, the results showed that amyloid accumulation in the brain does precede cognitive decline and can be modeled to predict cognitive deterioration. Thus, it was concluded that “estimated time since disease onset” does serve as a possible effective predictive diagnostic tool of cognitive impairments and AD pathology. Additionally, this study emphasizes the need for future research on the mechanisms by which amyloid accumulation influences cognitive impairments.Show less
