Visual Functions Are Associated with Biomarker Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Background: While various biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been associated with general cognitive function, their association to visual-perceptive function across the AD spectrum warrant more attention due to its significant impact on quality of life. Thus, this study explores how AD biomarkers are associated with decline in this cognitive domain. Objective: To explore associations between various fluid and imaging biomarkers and visual-based cognitive assessments in participants across the AD spectrum. Methods: Data from participants (N = 1,460) in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were analyzed, including fluid and imaging biomarkers. Along with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), three specific visual-based cognitive tests were investigated: Trail Making Test (TMT) A and TMT B, and the Boston Naming Test (BNT). Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing curves and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine associations. Results: MMSE showed the strongest correlations with most biomarkers, followed by TMT-B. The p-tau181/Aβ1–42 ratio, along with the volume of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, had the strongest associations among the biomarkers. Conclusions: Several biomarkers are associated with visual processing across the disease spectrum, emphasizing their potential in assessing disease severity and contributing to progression models of visual function and cognition.