Table 1.

Demographic data, cognitive functions, plasma tau levels of the subjects

Group	Control (30)	MCI (20)	Early AD (10)
Age (years)	64.4 ± 9.5	71.2 ± 9.7	69.3 ± 9.4
Gender female/male	17/13	11/9	6/4
APOEε4	8 (1ε4/4)	8 (1ε4/4)	5 (3ε4/4)
Education (years)	13.1 ± 3.0	12.0± 3.1	7.6 ± 3.2*†
CDR	0	.5	.5/one with CDR1
MMSE	28.8 ± 1.6	26.3 ± 2.7*	22.7 ± 3.0*†
Plasma tau level (pg/ml)	15.6 ± 6.9	32.7 ± 5.8*	53.9 ± 11.7*†

Mean ± SD;

*: significant group difference between controls and MCI or early AD by using ANOVA at a significance level of P < 0.01;

†: significant group difference between MCI and Early AD at a significance level of P < 0.01; no significant between‐group difference in age, gender and APOEε4 distribution.