Examining the Relationship between a Verbal Incidental Learning Measure from the WAIS-IV and Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Pathology

ABSTRACT

Convergent validation of a verbal incidental learning (IL) task from the WAIS-IV using neuroimaging biomarkers is warranted to understand its sensitivity to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Fifty-five memory clinic patients aged 59 to 87 years received neuropsychological assessment, and measures of IL and quantitative brain imaging. Worse IL-Total Score and IL-Similarities performances were significantly associated with smaller hemispheric hippocampal volumes. IL measures were not significantly correlated with cerebral β-amyloid burden, though a trend was present and effect sizes were mild. These hippocampal volume results suggest that this IL task may be sensitive to AD pathology along the AD continuum.

Declaration of conflict

The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an anonymous foundation, grants from the National Institutes of Aging (#5R01AG045163 and #5R01AG055428), the Center for Quantitative Cancer Imaging at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and the University of Utah Center for Alzheimer’s Care, Imaging and Research.