Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
52170
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council
Hollywood Private Hospital
CogState Ltd.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Alzheimer's Australia (AA)
CSIRO
Science and Industry Endowment Fund
Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation
BrightFocus
Western Australia Department of Health
Grant Number
NHMRC Number : APP1129627
Abstract
Introduction:
Plasma amyloid beta (Aβ)1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio, phosphorylated-tau181 (p-tau181), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) are putative blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, head-to-head cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons of the aforementioned biomarkers across the AD continuum are lacking.
Methods:
Plasma Aβ1-42, Aβ1-40, p-tau181, GFAP, and NfL were measured utilizing the Single Molecule Array (Simoa) platform and compared cross-sectionally across the AD continuum, wherein Aβ-PET (positron emission tomography)–negative cognitively unimpaired (CU Aβ−, n = 81) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI Aβ−, n = 26) participants were compared with Aβ-PET–positive participants across the AD continuum (CU Aβ+, n = 39; MCI Aβ+, n = 33; AD Aβ+, n = 46) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL) cohort. Longitudinal plasma biomarker changes were also assessed in MCI (n = 27) and AD (n = 29) participants compared with CU (n = 120) participants. In addition, associations between baseline plasma biomarker levels and prospective cognitive decline and Aβ-PET load were assessed over a 7 to 10-year duration.
Results:
Lower plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio and elevated p-tau181 and GFAP were observed in CU Aβ+, MCI Aβ+, and AD Aβ+, whereas elevated plasma NfL was observed in MCI Aβ+ and AD Aβ+, compared with CU Aβ− and MCI Aβ−. Among the aforementioned plasma biomarkers, for models with and without AD risk factors (age, sex, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status), p-tau181 performed equivalent to or better than other biomarkers in predicting a brain Aβ−/+ status across the AD continuum. However, for models with and without the AD risk factors, a biomarker panel of Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40, p-tau181, and GFAP performed equivalent to or better than any of the biomarkers alone in predicting brain Aβ−/+ status across the AD continuum. Longitudinally, plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40, p-tau181, and GFAP were altered in MCI compared with CU, and plasma GFAP and NfL were altered in AD compared with CU. In addition, lower plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 and higher p-tau181, GFAP, and NfL were associated with prospective cognitive decline and lower plasma Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40, and higher p-tau181 and GFAP were associated with increased Aβ-PET load prospectively.
Discussion:
These findings suggest that plasma biomarkers are altered cross-sectionally and longitudinally, along the AD continuum, and are prospectively associated with cognitive decline and brain Aβ-PET load. In addition, although p-tau181 performed equivalent to or better than other biomarkers in predicting an Aβ−/+ status across the AD continuum, a panel of biomarkers may have superior Aβ −/+ status predictive capability across the AD continuum.
Highlights:
Area under the curve (AUC) of p-tau181 ≥ AUC of Aβ42/40, GFAP, NfL in predicting PET Aβ−/+ status (Aβ−/+). AUC of Aβ42/40+p-tau181+GFAP panel ≥ AUC of Aβ42/40/p-tau181/GFAP/NfL for Aβ−/+. Longitudinally, Aβ42/40, p-tau181, and GFAP were altered in MCI versus CU. Longitudinally, GFAP and NfL were altered in AD versus CU. Aβ42/40, p-tau181, GFAP, and NfL are associated with prospective cognitive decline. Aβ42/40, p-tau181, and GFAP are associated with increased PET Aβ load prospectively.
DOI
10.1002/alz.12724
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Comments
Chatterjee, P., Pedrini, S., Doecke, J. D., Thota, R., Villemagne, V. L., Doré, V., ... & AIBL Research Group. (2023). Plasma Aβ42/40 ratio, p‐tau181, GFAP, and NfL across the Alzheimer's disease continuum: A cross‐sectional and longitudinal study in the AIBL cohort. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19(4), 1117-1134.
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12724