Statistically significant positive associations with change in MoCA score (indicating that higher scores are related to less cognitive decline) were found for CSF amyloid-beta (t = 2.13; p = 0.018), while statistically significant negative relationships (indicating that higher scores are related to more cognitive decline) were found for baseline MoCA (t = − 4.26; p = 0.00004), CSF total tau (t = − 1.66; p = 0.049), total STAI scores (t = − 1.73; p = 0.042), and autonomic dysfunction (t = − 2.57; p = 0.005). The gene discussed is MAPT; the disease is Abnormal autonomic nervous system physiology.