Alzheimer's disease biomarker burden in primary motor cortices is associated with poorer dexterity performance

Abstract

Introduction: Motor function has correlated with longevity and functionality; however, there is limited research on those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the association between motor functionality and AD pathology in primary motor and medial temporal cortices.

Methods: A total of 206 participants with a clinical diagnosis of cognitively healthy, AD, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underwent imaging and motor assessment. Linear regressions and analyses of variance were applied to test the prediction from AD imaging biomarkers to motor performance and the diagnosis group differences in motor performance.

Results: Increased neurodegeneration was associated with worsening dexterity and lower walking speed, and increased amyloid and tau were associated with worsening dexterity. AD and MCI participants had lower motor performance than the cognitively healthy participants.

Discussion: Increased AD pathology is associated with worsening dexterity performance. The decline in dexterity in those with AD pathology may offer an opportunity for non-pharmacological therapy intervention.

Highlights: Noted worsening dexterity performance was associated with greater Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology (tau, amyloid beta, and neurodegeneration) in primary motor cortices. Similarly, increased neurodegeneration and tau pathology in parahippocampal, hippocampal, and entorhinal cortices is associated with worsening dexterity performance. Motor performance declined in those with clinical and preclinical AD among an array of motor assessments.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease pathology; dexterity performance in clinical and preclinical Alzheimer's disease; magnetic resonance imaging; motor decline in Alzheimer's disease; motor function; physiotherapy; positron emission tomography imaging.