Table 3.
Effects of baseline plasma ET on CDR-SOB progression and global/domain-specific cognitive decline.
| Mean Difference in the Rate of Change of Outcome Scores per Unit Increase in Log-Transformed Plasma ET Levels | ||
|---|---|---|
| β (95% CI) * | p Value | |
| CDR-SOB a | −0.55 (−0.87, −0.22) | 0.001 |
| Neuropsychological z-scores b | ||
| Global | 0.23 (0.06, 0.40) | 0.008 |
| Executive function | 0.12 (0.02, 0.23) | 0.019 |
| Attention | 0.12 (0.04, 0.21) | 0.004 |
| Language | 0.49 (0.03, 0.94) | 0.037 |
| Visuospatial function | 0.07 (−0.04, 0.18) | 0.210 |
| Visuomotor speed | 0.05 (0.01, 0.09) | 0.028 |
| Memory | 0.10 (0.03, 0.17) | 0.007 |
* Mean differences (β coefficients) of the interaction term ET × time and 95% CI were derived from linear mixed-effect models with log-transformed plasma ET levels included as a continuous variable. All values adjusted for age, gender, education, APOE ε4 status, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and baseline MMSE. Interpretation: a significant β (p < 0.05) < 0 indicates a decrease in the rate of progression in CDR-SOB scores based on the β value for every 10-fold (1 unit of log 10 [plasma ET]) increase in plasma ET levels at baseline. b significant β (p < 0.05) > 0 indicates a decrease in the rate of decline in cognitive z-scores based on the β value for every 10-fold (1 unit of log 10 [plasma ET]) increase in plasma ET levels at baseline. Abbreviations: CDR-SOB = Clinical Dementia Rating Sum-of-Boxes, CI = confidence interval; ET = ergothioneine, MMSE = Mini-Mental State Examination.