%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2021 %T Association Between Elevated Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Function Moderated by APOE4 Status: Framingham Offspring Study. %A Piers, Ryan J %A Liu, Yulin %A Ang, Ting F A %A Tao, Qiushan %A Au, Rhoda %A Qiu, Wei Qiao %X

BACKGROUND: Depression and Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) are associated with decreased cognitive function and differences in brain structure.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether APOE4 status moderates the association between elevated depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and brain structure.

METHODS: Stroke- and dementia-free participants (n = 1,968) underwent neuropsychological evaluation, brain MRI, and depression screening. Linear and logistic regression was used to examine all associations. Secondary analyses were performed using interaction terms to assess effect modification by APOE4 status.

RESULTS: Elevated depressive symptoms were associated with lower cognitive performance in several domains. In stratified analyses, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with poorer visual short- and long-term memory performance for APOE4 + participants. Elevated depressive symptoms were not associated with any brain structure in this study sample.

CONCLUSION: Elevated depressive symptoms impact cognitive function in non-demented individuals. Having the APOE4 allele may exacerbate the deleterious effects of elevated depressive symptoms on visual memory performance. Screening for elevated depressive symptoms in both research studies and clinical practice may be warranted to avoid false positive identification of neurodegeneration, particularly among those who are APOE4 + .

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 80 %P 1269-1279 %8 2021 Apr 06 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.3233/JAD-200998 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2017 %T Age and Graphomotor Decision Making Assessed with the Digital Clock Drawing Test: The Framingham Heart Study. %A Piers, Ryan J %A Devlin, Kathryn N %A Ning, Boting %A Liu, Yulin %A Wasserman, Ben %A Massaro, Joseph M %A Lamar, Melissa %A Price, Catherine C %A Swenson, Rod %A Davis, Randall %A Penney, Dana L %A Au, Rhoda %A Libon, David J %X

BACKGROUND: Digital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT) technology enables the examination of detailed neurocognitive behavior as behavior unfolds in real time; a capability that cannot be obtained using a traditional pen and paper testing format.

OBJECTIVE: Parameters obtained from the dCDT were used to investigate neurocognitive constructs related to higher-order neurocognitive decision making and information processing speed. The current research sought to determine the effect of age as related to combined motor and non-motor components of drawing, and higher-order decision making latencies.

METHODS: A large group of stroke- and dementia- free Framingham Heart Study participants were administered the dCDT to command and copy with hands set for "10 after 11". Six age groups (age range 28-98) were constructed.

RESULTS: Differences between age groups were found for total time to completion, total pen stroke count, and higher-order decision making latencies in both command and copy test conditions.

CONCLUSION: Longer age-related decision making latencies may reflect a greater need for working memory and increased self-monitoring in older subjects. These latency measures have potential to serve as neurocognitive biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and other insidious neurodegenerative disorders.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 60 %P 1611-1620 %8 2017 %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29036819?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-170444