Work

A novel composite biomarker score for the identification of cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure: a pilot study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background Among 6.7million Americans with heart failure(HF), 40-60% are estimated to have mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and are at-risk for vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia(VCID). This pilot study examined whether neurodegenerative and inflammatory serum biomarkers are elevated in HF and whether a combination of these biomarkers predicts cognitive performance.Methods Thirty-four HF patients(mean age = 69years, 62%male) were recruited from Banner–University cardiology clinics and underwent blood sampling and neuropsychological testing to derive an “Actual Composite Cognitive Score.” Age-matched healthy controls included (i)11 individuals(mean age = 63years, 20%male) who completed identical procedures and (ii)24 individuals used exclusively for biomarker analysis. Biomarkers—serum neurofilament light chain(NfL), plasma phosphorylated tau(pTau181, pTau217), placental growth factor(PlGF), cytokines, and NT-proBNP—were quantified using Quanterix Simoa, Milliplex, and Elecsys(Roche) assays.Result HF participants scored worse in cognitive assessments than controls(p = 0.0001). Serum NfL(p = 0.02), IL-6(p < 0.0001), IL-12p40(p < 0.0001), IL-15(p = 0.005), MIP-1α(p = 0.007), TNFβ(p = 0.03), and TNFα(p = 0.0002) were increased in HF. NfL and pTau181 correlated with NT-proBNP; NfL, IL-6, and TNFα inversely correlated with cognitive scores. The Composite Biomarker Cognitive Score = NfL + NT-proBNP + IL-6 + TNFα negatively correlated with the Actual Composite Cognitive Score(r=-0.60,p = 0.0002).Conclusion These results establish a Composite Biomarker Cognitive Score, which is predictive of cognitive impairment in HF, and may aid in identifying HF patients suitable for cognitive-protective therapies.Funding This study was funded by NIA under Grant U01AG066623; and Grant U01AG082617

Source: Biomarkers

DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2025.2585003