- Email: [email protected]
P2-201
S294
Poster P2:: Monday Posters
cortices of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients who are in their 50s to 70s. The pattern of glucose metabolic changes in older MCI patients has not been established. Objective: To determine the effect of age on the regional pattern of glucose uptake in patients with MCI, who were stratified to older and younger groups. Methods: Ten patients with MCI with a mean (range) age of 67 (55-72) and 10 patients with MCI with a mean (range) age of 79 (74-86), along with 22 age and gender matched controls and 11 AD patients underwent clinical evaluation, FDG PET and MRI. The disease duration of MCI was similar in the two MCI groups. We compared the glucose uptake (scaled to pontine uptake) in the younger and older MCI patients and AD patients with their age and gender matched control groups separately using both statistical parametric mapping and atlas-based analysis of regional glucose uptake. Results: Statistical parametric mapping showed that younger MCI patients had reduced glucose uptake in the posterior cingulate gyri and in the right prefrontal cortex. Older MCI patients had reduced glucose uptake in the right and left prefrontal cortices. Patients with AD had reduced glucose uptake in the parietal and temporal cortices (Figure, p⬍0.001 uncorrected for multiple comparisons). Atlas-based regional analysis was in agreement with statistical parametric mapping. Conclusion: Patients with MCI who are younger than 73 years of age have reduced glucose metabolism in the posterior cingulate gyri, in agreement with previous observations in this age group. However, regional patterns of glucose metabolism reduction differed in older patients with MCI, limiting the generalizability of previously reported metabolism patterns in MCI. Possibly a higher rate of incipient AD in the older control group used for reference, and a higher rate of comorbidities in the older MCI group may be the reasons for observing a different pattern of change in glucose metabolism in older MCI patients.
P2-199
GREY MATTER LOSS IN AMNESTIC MCI ACCORDING TO THE PROFILE OF MEMORY IMPAIRMENT
Mathieu Ceccaldi1, Emmanuel Barbeau2, Jean-Philiphe Ranjeva3, Mira Didic1, Sylviane Confort-Gouny3, Olivier Felician4, Patrick J. Cozzone3, Michel Poncet1, 1Department of Neurology and Neuropsychology , AP-HM Timone; INSERM U751; Universite´ de la Me´diterrane´e, Marseille, France; 2CERCO UMR 5549, Toulouse, France; 3CRMBM CNRS 6612, Faculte de Medecine, Universite de la Mediterranee, Marseille, France; 4Department of Neurology and Neuropsychology , AP-HM Timone, Marseille, France. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Memory impairment in amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients can be either related to impaired recall or impaired storage. Objective(s): We
examined the pattern of cortical atrophy of aMCI patients according to their profile of memory impairment. Methods: 28 aMCI patients and 28 controls underwent a visual recognition memory task (DMS48) sensible to impaired storage but not recall and brain imaging with MRI. Relative grey matter atrophy was assessed using a voxel-based morphometry approach performed on 3D-high resolution T1-weighted MR images. Results: Relative to controls, the aMCI group as a whole showed grey matter loss within the right MTL, lateral temporal and parieto-temporal structures as well as frontal lobes. However, when comparing atrophy patterns of aMCI patients with different profiles of memory impairment, those who succeeded on the visual recognition memory task showed atrophy confined to frontal areas respecting the MTL, whereas aMCI patients failing this task had atrophy of the right MTL and posterior temporal as well as parietal cortices. MMSE and age did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: This study shows that different profiles of memory impairment are associated with distinct patterns of GM loss in aMCI patients. P2-200
THE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF MEMORY STRATEGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMENTIA
Inez Ramakers, Pieter Jelle Visser, Pauline Aalten, Iris Maes, Jelle Jolles, Frans Verhey, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Memory impairment in subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a strong predictor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In AD memory impairment is related to impaired learning strategies, but whether this also explains memory impairment in MCI is unknown. In addition, it remains unclear whether impaired learning strategies, such as clustering, predict dementia in subjects with MCI. Objectives: To investigate whether learning strategies differ between subjects with MCI and subjects with memory complaints without objective memory impairment, and more particularly, to analyze the predictive power of cluster strategies for the development of dementia. Methods: Subjects (n⫽374) with cognitive complaints, no dementia, and otherwise healthy, were selected from the Maastricht memory clinic. All subjects performed the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). Investigated strategies were serial and subjective clustering within the five learning trials of the AVLT. In serial clustering the reproduction of words is in the same order as they were offered. In subjective clustering on the other hand, words are reproduced in clusters that are logical to the subject. First we investigated cross-sectionally whether the use of strategies was associated with poor delayed recall, defined as a score below the 10th percentile. Next, we investigated in a sub-sample of 96 subjects if strategy use was associated with dementia within a 10 year follow up. Results: Subjects with objective memory impairment had significantly lower levels of subjective clustering, than subjects without memory impairment, but levels of serial clustering were comparable. Subjects with memory impairment also showed less increase in the use of subjective clustering over the learning trials. Subjective clustering was a significant predictor for the development of dementia within 10 years (p⬍.05), but serial clustering was not. Conclusion: Impaired delayed recall is related to impaired clustering in MCI. Not only are delayed recall scores important for the prediction of dementia, but also the strategy to reach this score should be taken into account. Strategy use can thus be seen as a more refined marker for the prediction of dementia. P2-201
MEDIAL TEMPORAL ATROPHY PREDICTS CONVERSION TO DEMENTIA IN PATIENTS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Elisa Canu, Cristina Geroldi, Cristina Testa, Lorena Bresciani, Roberta Rossi, Zanetti Orazio, Giuliano Binetti, Giovanni B. Frisoni, IRCCS S.Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Little is known about factors that predict transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Objective(s): To describe
Poster P2:: Monday Posters features and to identify predictors of conversion in a group of patients with MCI assessed in the outpatient facility of a memory clinic. Methods: 104 dementia free patients (age 71⫾8 years; 64% females) with cognitive disturbances, and 65 healthy controls (age 69⫾6 years; 54 % females). They underwent brain MR scan with standardized visual assessment of medial temporal atrophy (MTA) and subcortical cerebrovascular lesions (SVLs). Fifty-two patients underwent follow-up evaluation on an average of 15.4⫾3.4 months after baseline assessment to detect incident dementia. Results: Patients were classified into 3 groups according with presence of memory disturbance only (MCI Mem), other neuropsychological deficits (MCI Oth), or both (MCI Mem⫹). MCI Mem⫹ shows more frequent MTA (Scheltens’ score 3 or 4: 47% vs 31% and 14%, p⫽0.002). Eleven patients converted to dementia (16.5% person/year) and 7 improved on follow-up. The only independent predictor of conversion was MTA (OR 7.1, 95% C.I. 1.4 to 35.0), while predictors of improvement were the absence of memory impairment (OR 18.5, 95% C.I. 2.0 to 171.3) and of pathological neuroimaging features (OR 10.0, 95% C.I. 1.7 to 60.2). Conclusions: Neuropsychological patterns identify groups of MCI patients with specific clinical features and risk of conversion to dementia. MTA clinically rated with visual scale is the most relevant predictor of conversion and improvement. P2-202
URT: A NEW DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH FOR THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF THE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Daniel Gau1, Stefan Dickopf1, Anne Fagan2, David Holtzman3, Theodor Funck1, Hanna Bierbaum1, 1TF-Instruments, Heidelberg, Germany; 2University School of Medicine, St. Louis, WA, USA; 3 University School of Medicine, St. Louis, WA, USA. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Today diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is limited to the mental and cognitive examinations of patients and impedes preventive screening. Moreover, the diagnosis of patients is particularly difficult at the early stage of the disease when only minor cognitive impairment meets the criteria for being classified as dementia. These patients are generally considers to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The onset and/or progression of brain degeneration in MCI and AD have been linked to abnormal interactions between brain proteins resulting in the their aggregation. Unfortunately, the use of biomarkers to detect aggregated proteins has thus far not succeeded into early detection. As a consequence, new approaches are required to support existing clinical characterization. We recently investigated in two independent studies the potential of the Ultrasonic Resonator Technology (URT) for the diagnosis of AD. A clear differentiation of AD from healthy controls was obtained by comparison of the hydration profiles over increasing temperature. Objective(s): In the present study, we further evaluated the potential of URT in particular for the detection of very early AD stages. We therefore investigated a new set of samples from patients with MCI and age-matched and educationalmatched healthy controls and characterized the disease specific hydration behaviour, during thermal destabilization. Methods: CSF samples classified according to Clinical Dementia Rating from volunteer subjects were obtained by lumbal puncture of healthy controls and individuals with MCI. All ultrasonic measurements were performed using the ResoScan® System. Results: We could demonstrate the sensitivity of URT by detecting early stages of AD. The hydration behavior of the MCI group differed significantly from the control group. Quantification of the difference based on the selection of the hydration behavior at six defined temperatures allowed differentiation with more than 85% significance by simple cluster analysis. Conclusions: These results suggests that URT represents a new technical approach for the characterization of early stages of neurodegenerative disorders and may provide a new entry point for diagnostic strategies of misfolding disorders.
P2-203
S295 AMNESTIC MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT OR VERY MILD ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE? RESULTS FROM THE REGAL PROJECT
Elena Mariani1, Sara Ercolani1, Miriam Caputo1, Patrizia Rinaldi1, Roberto Monastero2, Umberto Senin1, Patrizia Mecocci1, the ReGAl Study Group, 1Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; 2Laboratory of Epidemiology and Psychology of Aging and Dementia, Section of Neurology and Psychiatry, Palermo, Italy. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is a useful scale used to classify subjects along a continuum from normal aging through various stages of dementia. A CDR of 0.5 actually describes a broader population that includes subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective(s): To investigate the substantial differences between these two condition in clinical settings. Methods: The analysis included 242 subjects with CDR 0.5 (132 amnestic MCI -aMCI- according to Petersen’s criteria, and 110 AD), participating to a large multicentric clinical-based study (the ReGAl project). Each subject underwent an extensive neurologic, medical, and neuropsychological evaluation. The neurophychological test battery included measures of global mental status, memory, language, attention, and constructional abilities. Functional status was assessed with the Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Disability was defined as dependence in at least one item. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 12.0 for Windows. Results: There were no differences in age (aMCI mean age 76.1⫾5.8, AD mean age 76.7⫾6.6) and gender distribution (aMCI F% 56.8, AD F% 58.2). Very mild AD subjects had a lower educational level compared to aMCI (5.9⫾3.7 and 7.1⫾4.2 years, respectively, p⫽0.02). While aMCI and AD subjects presented similar memory impairment, AD subjects showed worst performances in all other neuropsychological tests (p⬍0.001). Regarding functional status there was no difference in disability in ADL, whereas AD subjects presented more impairment in IADL, compared to aMCI (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.5, in logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, years of education and comorbidity). Among IADL item, AD subjects had more dysfunction in shopping (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.3), cooking (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4-4.6), and, especially, in taking drugs (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.4-8.3). Conclusions: In this large Italian multicentric clinical-based study, with a CDR rating score of 0.5, the diagnosis of AD is related mainly to the worst global cognitive impairment, whereas in the functional status, the difference between AD and aMCI is limited to few (shopping, cooking and taking drugs) instrumental activities of daily living. P2-204
EMOTIONAL MEMORY IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Silvia Marreneca, Isabel P. Martins, Alexandre Mendonc¸a, Manuela Guerreiro, IMM, Medicine Faculty of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Healthy subjects usually show an enhancement in the memory for emotional events as compared to the neutral ones. Memory loss is the hallmark of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), but it is not known whether this facilitation in memory due to emotional content is preserved in these patients. Objective(s): With this work we attempted to study emotional memory in MCI. Methods: MCI patients (N ⫽ 24) and healthy controls (N ⫽ 24) matched by age, educational level and gender were submitted to an emotional memory experimental test which required learning of negative, neutral and positive sentences. Learning was assessed by immediate and 45 minutes delay free-recall. Two measures were analyzed: memory for the core of the sentence and memory for the complete information of the sentence. Performance in this test was compared with repeated measures ANOVA with valence (negative, neutral, positive) as within subject factor and group (patients or healthy controls) as between subject factor. Results: Learning for all
Poster P2:: Monday Posters
cortices of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients who are in their 50s to 70s. The pattern of glucose metabolic changes in older MCI patients has not been established. Objective: To determine the effect of age on the regional pattern of glucose uptake in patients with MCI, who were stratified to older and younger groups. Methods: Ten patients with MCI with a mean (range) age of 67 (55-72) and 10 patients with MCI with a mean (range) age of 79 (74-86), along with 22 age and gender matched controls and 11 AD patients underwent clinical evaluation, FDG PET and MRI. The disease duration of MCI was similar in the two MCI groups. We compared the glucose uptake (scaled to pontine uptake) in the younger and older MCI patients and AD patients with their age and gender matched control groups separately using both statistical parametric mapping and atlas-based analysis of regional glucose uptake. Results: Statistical parametric mapping showed that younger MCI patients had reduced glucose uptake in the posterior cingulate gyri and in the right prefrontal cortex. Older MCI patients had reduced glucose uptake in the right and left prefrontal cortices. Patients with AD had reduced glucose uptake in the parietal and temporal cortices (Figure, p⬍0.001 uncorrected for multiple comparisons). Atlas-based regional analysis was in agreement with statistical parametric mapping. Conclusion: Patients with MCI who are younger than 73 years of age have reduced glucose metabolism in the posterior cingulate gyri, in agreement with previous observations in this age group. However, regional patterns of glucose metabolism reduction differed in older patients with MCI, limiting the generalizability of previously reported metabolism patterns in MCI. Possibly a higher rate of incipient AD in the older control group used for reference, and a higher rate of comorbidities in the older MCI group may be the reasons for observing a different pattern of change in glucose metabolism in older MCI patients.
P2-199
GREY MATTER LOSS IN AMNESTIC MCI ACCORDING TO THE PROFILE OF MEMORY IMPAIRMENT
Mathieu Ceccaldi1, Emmanuel Barbeau2, Jean-Philiphe Ranjeva3, Mira Didic1, Sylviane Confort-Gouny3, Olivier Felician4, Patrick J. Cozzone3, Michel Poncet1, 1Department of Neurology and Neuropsychology , AP-HM Timone; INSERM U751; Universite´ de la Me´diterrane´e, Marseille, France; 2CERCO UMR 5549, Toulouse, France; 3CRMBM CNRS 6612, Faculte de Medecine, Universite de la Mediterranee, Marseille, France; 4Department of Neurology and Neuropsychology , AP-HM Timone, Marseille, France. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Memory impairment in amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients can be either related to impaired recall or impaired storage. Objective(s): We
examined the pattern of cortical atrophy of aMCI patients according to their profile of memory impairment. Methods: 28 aMCI patients and 28 controls underwent a visual recognition memory task (DMS48) sensible to impaired storage but not recall and brain imaging with MRI. Relative grey matter atrophy was assessed using a voxel-based morphometry approach performed on 3D-high resolution T1-weighted MR images. Results: Relative to controls, the aMCI group as a whole showed grey matter loss within the right MTL, lateral temporal and parieto-temporal structures as well as frontal lobes. However, when comparing atrophy patterns of aMCI patients with different profiles of memory impairment, those who succeeded on the visual recognition memory task showed atrophy confined to frontal areas respecting the MTL, whereas aMCI patients failing this task had atrophy of the right MTL and posterior temporal as well as parietal cortices. MMSE and age did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: This study shows that different profiles of memory impairment are associated with distinct patterns of GM loss in aMCI patients. P2-200
THE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF MEMORY STRATEGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMENTIA
Inez Ramakers, Pieter Jelle Visser, Pauline Aalten, Iris Maes, Jelle Jolles, Frans Verhey, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Memory impairment in subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a strong predictor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In AD memory impairment is related to impaired learning strategies, but whether this also explains memory impairment in MCI is unknown. In addition, it remains unclear whether impaired learning strategies, such as clustering, predict dementia in subjects with MCI. Objectives: To investigate whether learning strategies differ between subjects with MCI and subjects with memory complaints without objective memory impairment, and more particularly, to analyze the predictive power of cluster strategies for the development of dementia. Methods: Subjects (n⫽374) with cognitive complaints, no dementia, and otherwise healthy, were selected from the Maastricht memory clinic. All subjects performed the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). Investigated strategies were serial and subjective clustering within the five learning trials of the AVLT. In serial clustering the reproduction of words is in the same order as they were offered. In subjective clustering on the other hand, words are reproduced in clusters that are logical to the subject. First we investigated cross-sectionally whether the use of strategies was associated with poor delayed recall, defined as a score below the 10th percentile. Next, we investigated in a sub-sample of 96 subjects if strategy use was associated with dementia within a 10 year follow up. Results: Subjects with objective memory impairment had significantly lower levels of subjective clustering, than subjects without memory impairment, but levels of serial clustering were comparable. Subjects with memory impairment also showed less increase in the use of subjective clustering over the learning trials. Subjective clustering was a significant predictor for the development of dementia within 10 years (p⬍.05), but serial clustering was not. Conclusion: Impaired delayed recall is related to impaired clustering in MCI. Not only are delayed recall scores important for the prediction of dementia, but also the strategy to reach this score should be taken into account. Strategy use can thus be seen as a more refined marker for the prediction of dementia. P2-201
MEDIAL TEMPORAL ATROPHY PREDICTS CONVERSION TO DEMENTIA IN PATIENTS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Elisa Canu, Cristina Geroldi, Cristina Testa, Lorena Bresciani, Roberta Rossi, Zanetti Orazio, Giuliano Binetti, Giovanni B. Frisoni, IRCCS S.Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Little is known about factors that predict transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Objective(s): To describe
Poster P2:: Monday Posters features and to identify predictors of conversion in a group of patients with MCI assessed in the outpatient facility of a memory clinic. Methods: 104 dementia free patients (age 71⫾8 years; 64% females) with cognitive disturbances, and 65 healthy controls (age 69⫾6 years; 54 % females). They underwent brain MR scan with standardized visual assessment of medial temporal atrophy (MTA) and subcortical cerebrovascular lesions (SVLs). Fifty-two patients underwent follow-up evaluation on an average of 15.4⫾3.4 months after baseline assessment to detect incident dementia. Results: Patients were classified into 3 groups according with presence of memory disturbance only (MCI Mem), other neuropsychological deficits (MCI Oth), or both (MCI Mem⫹). MCI Mem⫹ shows more frequent MTA (Scheltens’ score 3 or 4: 47% vs 31% and 14%, p⫽0.002). Eleven patients converted to dementia (16.5% person/year) and 7 improved on follow-up. The only independent predictor of conversion was MTA (OR 7.1, 95% C.I. 1.4 to 35.0), while predictors of improvement were the absence of memory impairment (OR 18.5, 95% C.I. 2.0 to 171.3) and of pathological neuroimaging features (OR 10.0, 95% C.I. 1.7 to 60.2). Conclusions: Neuropsychological patterns identify groups of MCI patients with specific clinical features and risk of conversion to dementia. MTA clinically rated with visual scale is the most relevant predictor of conversion and improvement. P2-202
URT: A NEW DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH FOR THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF THE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Daniel Gau1, Stefan Dickopf1, Anne Fagan2, David Holtzman3, Theodor Funck1, Hanna Bierbaum1, 1TF-Instruments, Heidelberg, Germany; 2University School of Medicine, St. Louis, WA, USA; 3 University School of Medicine, St. Louis, WA, USA. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Today diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is limited to the mental and cognitive examinations of patients and impedes preventive screening. Moreover, the diagnosis of patients is particularly difficult at the early stage of the disease when only minor cognitive impairment meets the criteria for being classified as dementia. These patients are generally considers to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The onset and/or progression of brain degeneration in MCI and AD have been linked to abnormal interactions between brain proteins resulting in the their aggregation. Unfortunately, the use of biomarkers to detect aggregated proteins has thus far not succeeded into early detection. As a consequence, new approaches are required to support existing clinical characterization. We recently investigated in two independent studies the potential of the Ultrasonic Resonator Technology (URT) for the diagnosis of AD. A clear differentiation of AD from healthy controls was obtained by comparison of the hydration profiles over increasing temperature. Objective(s): In the present study, we further evaluated the potential of URT in particular for the detection of very early AD stages. We therefore investigated a new set of samples from patients with MCI and age-matched and educationalmatched healthy controls and characterized the disease specific hydration behaviour, during thermal destabilization. Methods: CSF samples classified according to Clinical Dementia Rating from volunteer subjects were obtained by lumbal puncture of healthy controls and individuals with MCI. All ultrasonic measurements were performed using the ResoScan® System. Results: We could demonstrate the sensitivity of URT by detecting early stages of AD. The hydration behavior of the MCI group differed significantly from the control group. Quantification of the difference based on the selection of the hydration behavior at six defined temperatures allowed differentiation with more than 85% significance by simple cluster analysis. Conclusions: These results suggests that URT represents a new technical approach for the characterization of early stages of neurodegenerative disorders and may provide a new entry point for diagnostic strategies of misfolding disorders.
P2-203
S295 AMNESTIC MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT OR VERY MILD ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE? RESULTS FROM THE REGAL PROJECT
Elena Mariani1, Sara Ercolani1, Miriam Caputo1, Patrizia Rinaldi1, Roberto Monastero2, Umberto Senin1, Patrizia Mecocci1, the ReGAl Study Group, 1Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; 2Laboratory of Epidemiology and Psychology of Aging and Dementia, Section of Neurology and Psychiatry, Palermo, Italy. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is a useful scale used to classify subjects along a continuum from normal aging through various stages of dementia. A CDR of 0.5 actually describes a broader population that includes subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective(s): To investigate the substantial differences between these two condition in clinical settings. Methods: The analysis included 242 subjects with CDR 0.5 (132 amnestic MCI -aMCI- according to Petersen’s criteria, and 110 AD), participating to a large multicentric clinical-based study (the ReGAl project). Each subject underwent an extensive neurologic, medical, and neuropsychological evaluation. The neurophychological test battery included measures of global mental status, memory, language, attention, and constructional abilities. Functional status was assessed with the Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Disability was defined as dependence in at least one item. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 12.0 for Windows. Results: There were no differences in age (aMCI mean age 76.1⫾5.8, AD mean age 76.7⫾6.6) and gender distribution (aMCI F% 56.8, AD F% 58.2). Very mild AD subjects had a lower educational level compared to aMCI (5.9⫾3.7 and 7.1⫾4.2 years, respectively, p⫽0.02). While aMCI and AD subjects presented similar memory impairment, AD subjects showed worst performances in all other neuropsychological tests (p⬍0.001). Regarding functional status there was no difference in disability in ADL, whereas AD subjects presented more impairment in IADL, compared to aMCI (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.5, in logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, years of education and comorbidity). Among IADL item, AD subjects had more dysfunction in shopping (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.3), cooking (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4-4.6), and, especially, in taking drugs (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.4-8.3). Conclusions: In this large Italian multicentric clinical-based study, with a CDR rating score of 0.5, the diagnosis of AD is related mainly to the worst global cognitive impairment, whereas in the functional status, the difference between AD and aMCI is limited to few (shopping, cooking and taking drugs) instrumental activities of daily living. P2-204
EMOTIONAL MEMORY IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Silvia Marreneca, Isabel P. Martins, Alexandre Mendonc¸a, Manuela Guerreiro, IMM, Medicine Faculty of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. Contact e-mail: [email protected] Background: Healthy subjects usually show an enhancement in the memory for emotional events as compared to the neutral ones. Memory loss is the hallmark of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), but it is not known whether this facilitation in memory due to emotional content is preserved in these patients. Objective(s): With this work we attempted to study emotional memory in MCI. Methods: MCI patients (N ⫽ 24) and healthy controls (N ⫽ 24) matched by age, educational level and gender were submitted to an emotional memory experimental test which required learning of negative, neutral and positive sentences. Learning was assessed by immediate and 45 minutes delay free-recall. Two measures were analyzed: memory for the core of the sentence and memory for the complete information of the sentence. Performance in this test was compared with repeated measures ANOVA with valence (negative, neutral, positive) as within subject factor and group (patients or healthy controls) as between subject factor. Results: Learning for all