Semantic Memory Activation in Individuals at Risk for Developing Alzheimer Disease

Authors

Michael Seidenberg, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceFollow
Leslie Guidotti, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceFollow
Kristy A. Nielson, Marquette UniversityFollow
John L. Woodard, Wayne State University
Sally Durgerian, Medical College of WisconsinFollow
Piero Antuono, Medical College of Wisconsin
Q. Zhang, Medical College of WisconsinFollow
Stephen M. Rao, Cleveland ClinicFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

9 p.

Publication Date

8-25-2009

Publisher

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Source Publication

Neurology

Source ISSN

0028-3878

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181b389ad

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether whole-brain, event-related fMRI can distinguish healthy older adults with known Alzheimer disease (AD) risk factors (family history, APOE ε4) from controls using a semantic memory task involving discrimination of famous from unfamiliar names.

Methods: Sixty-nine cognitively asymptomatic adults were divided into 3 groups (n = 23 each) based on AD risk: 1) no family history, no ε4 allele (control [CON]); 2) family history, no ε4 allele (FH); and 3) family history and ε4 allele (FH+ε4). Separate hemodynamic response functions were extracted for famous and unfamiliar names using deconvolution analysis (correct trials only).

Results: Cognitively intact older adults with AD risk factors (FH and FH+ε4) exhibited greater activation in recognizing famous relative to unfamiliar names than a group without risk factors (CON), especially in the bilateral posterior cingulate/precuneus, bilateral temporoparietal junction, and bilateral prefrontal cortex. The increased activation was more apparent in the FH+ε4 than in the FH group. Unlike the 2 at-risk groups, the control group demonstrated greater activation for unfamiliar than familiar names, predominately in the supplementary motor area, bilateral precentral, left inferior frontal, right insula, precuneus, and angular gyrus. These results could not be attributed to differences in demographic variables, cerebral atrophy, episodic memory performance, global cognitive functioning, activities of daily living, or depression.

Conclusions: Results demonstrate that a low-effort, high-accuracy semantic memory activation task is sensitive to Alzheimer disease risk factors in a dose-related manner. This increased activation in at-risk individuals may reflect a compensatory brain response to support task performance in otherwise asymptomatic older adults.

Comments

Published version. Neurology, Vol. 73, No. 8 (August 25, 2009): 612-620. DOI. © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Seidenberg, Michael; Guidotti, Leslie; Nielson, Kristy A.; Woodard, John L.; Durgerian, Sally; Antuono, Piero; Zhang, Q.; and Rao, Stephen M., "Semantic Memory Activation in Individuals at Risk for Developing Alzheimer Disease" (2009). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 138.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/138