Given the current controversies between the clinical and neuropathological data in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Jack et al. (Reference Jack2016) proposed a new biomarker based classification named as the ATN system with the goal of developing a more accurate characterization and understanding of the sequence of events that lead to cognitive impairment. Opposed to the previous concepts (Albert et al., Reference Albert2011; Sperling et al., Reference Sperling2011), here the classification is entirely based on biomarkers (Jack et al., Reference Jack2018). The seven major AD biomarkers are divided in three binary classes: “A” refers to Aβ biomarkers (amyloid PET or CSF Aβ42), “T” to tau pathology biomarker (CSF p-tau or tau PET), and “N” a quantitative or topographic biomarker of neurodegeneration (CSF t-tau, FDG-PET or structural MRI) and each biomarker is rated as positive or negative (Jack et al., Reference Jack2016; Reference Jack2018).
The aim of this study was to describe the A/T/N research framework classification for AD in the Argentine ADNI cohort and to explore the prediction to develop dementia in a prospective two-year follow-up.
A cohort of 56 individuals (23 Mild Cognitive Impairment [MCI], 12 AD and 14 controls) were studied with the ADNI-2 protocol, which has been described in detail elsewhere (Russo et al., Reference Russo2014). Patients were categorized according to A/T/N and were followed longitudinally (baseline, at 12- and 24-month follow-up visits).
A+/T+/N+ at baseline was found in 2/14 controls (14%), 2/10 early MCI (20%), 6/13 late MCI (46%) and 11/12 mild dementia (91%); Suspected non- AD pathophysiology (SNAP, A-/T-/N+) was found in 1/14 controls (7%), 2/10 early MCI (20%), 2/13 late MCI (15%) and 1/12 mild dementia (8%); and A-/T-/N-: 8/14 (57%) of normal controls, 4/10 (40%) of e-MCI, 3/13 (23%) of l-MCI and 0/12 (0%) of mild dementia.
The first two-year survival analysis was based on clinical classification among normal controls 1/14 (7%), early MCI 2/10 (20%) and late MCI 6/13 (46%). The second two-year survival analysis was among MCI subjects according the A/T/N classification. The A+/T+/N+ subjects showed 6/8 (75%) of conversion to DAT, A-/T-/N+ showed conversion to dementia 2/4 (50%), and patients with A-/T-/N- (0/9), and A+/T-/N- (0/3) showed no conversion.
Our findings suggest that this biological classification is better for prognosis in a short time than the classical clinical one. The results should be taken with caution due to the limiting factors such as the small sample size, the short follow-up, and the source being a single specialized research center (even from ww-ADNI, the only in Latin America). However, despite all the aforementioned, these results are significant because we are the first and only ADNI center in Latin America and in a developing country with rigorous systematic with AD biomarkers. The present study provides a piece of evidence about the use of A/T/N classification in developing countries from Latin America. Currently, it is mandatory to use it as research framework worldwide. The AD biomarkers allow us to determine more detailed pathophysiology of the disease, and it is probably going to be the step to solve the appropriate therapeutics.
Conflict of interest
None.
Description of authors’ roles
RFA, ES and GS designed the study, supervised the data collection and wrote the paper. IC was responsible for statistical analysis. GC, PCM, MJR, LP, PB, FT, FC, JC, FN, ES and SV collect the data and assisted with writing article.
Acknowledgments
Data collection and sharing for this project were funded by FLENI Foundation, by CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas - PICT 2110-2015), and by CIS (Consejo de Investigación GCBA), Argentina.
