Plasma Aβ42/40 and cognitive variability are associated with cognitive function in Black Americans: Findings from the AA‐FAIM cohort
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: It is critical to develop more inclusive Alzheimer's disease (AD) research protocols to ensure that historically excluded groups are included in preclinical research and have access to timely diagnosis and treatment. If validated in racialized groups, plasma AD biomarkers and measures of subtle cognitive dysfunction could provide avenues to expand diversity in preclinical AD research. We sought to evaluate the utility of two easily obtained, low-burden disease markers, plasma amyloid beta (Aβ)42/40, and intra-individual cognitive variability (IICV), to predict concurrent and longitudinal cognitive performance in a sample of Black adults. Methods: scores on five cognitive measures: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Delayed Recall, Trail Making Test Parts A and B (Trails A and B), and Boston Naming Test. Using mixed effects regression models, we compared concurrent and longitudinal models to baseline plasma Aβ42/40 or IICV by age interactions. PrecivityAD assays quantified baseline plasma Aβ42/40. Results: IICV was associated with concurrent/baseline performance on several outcomes but did not modify associations between age and cognitive decline. In contrast, plasma Aβ42/40 was unrelated to baseline cognitive performance, but a pattern emerged in interactions with age in longitudinal models of Trails A and B and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test total learning trials. Although not significant after correcting for multiple comparisons, low Aβ42/40 was associated with faster cognitive declines over time. Discussion: Our results are promising as they extend existing findings to an Black American sample using low-cost, low-burden methods that can be implemented outside of a research center, thus supporting efforts for inclusive AD biomarker research.
DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12414
Authors: Barbara Fischer, Carol Ann Van Hulle, Rebecca Langhough, Derek Norton, Megan Zuelsdorff, Diane Carol Gooding, Mary F. Wyman, Adrienne Johnson, Nickolas Lambrou, Taryn James, Shenikqua Bouges, Fabu Phillis Carter, Hector Salazar, Kristopher Kirmess, Mary Holubasch, Matthew Meyer, Venky Venkatesh, Tim West, Philip Verghese, Kevin Yarasheski, Cynthia M. Carlsson, Sterling C. Johnson, Sanjay Asthana, Carey E. Gleason
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,310
Awards: Building Relationships between Researchers and the Community to Increase African American Participation in Alzheimer's Disease Research, G4470823208, Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Social-biological dimensions of ADRD risk and resilience in a Native American cohort, G7837091109, ADRD Prevention Messaging to Increase Smoking Cessation Attempts in Older Adult Smokers, Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention, African Americans Fighting Alzheimer’s in Midlife (AA-FAIM), Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
OpenAlex ID: W4387027523