Plasma proteomic profiles of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration in African cohorts
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) represents a growing public health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, most studies focus on Non-Hispanic white (NHW) populations from high-income countries. This study investigates plasma proteomic signatures associated with amyloid pathology in African populations. Nigerian older adults from the VALIANT study and participants from a Tanzanian study, with available biomarker quantification in plasma are employed. For proteomic comparison, participants from the Canadian TRIAD cohort are included, capturing a distinct population. Here, we show that multiple proteins are differentially abundant in the plasma of p-tau217-positive individuals and in the different cognitive groups, with findings largely consistent amongst African cohorts. Comorbidities are significantly associated with protein levels and differences in plasma biomarkers levels are found between sexes. Lastly, VALIANT and TRIAD show both shared and unique protein profiles in relation to amyloid-pathology. These findings support the utility of fluid biomarkers in ADRD in African populations.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Ilaria Pola, Tolulope Akinyemi, Kubra Tan, Oladotun Olalusi, Wiebke Traichel, Giulia Giacomucci, Joseph Yaria, Nesrine Rahmouni, Gabriel Ogunde, Olabode Oguntiloye, Arthur C. Macedo, Ayotomiwa Fagbemi, Eniola Cadmus, Joseph Therriault, Femi Popoola, Stella-Maria Paddick, Catherine Dotchin, Alyoce Kisoli, Richard Walker, Mayowa Ogunronbi, Dorcas Olujobi, Olaoluwa Famuyiwa, Joshua Akinyemi, Mayowa Owolabi, Chinedu T. Udeh–Momoh, Olusola Ladokun, Anthony Griswold, Roman Romero-Ortuno, Margaret Pericak-Vance, Adesola Ogunniyi, Stephanie Debette, Brian Lawlor, Nicholas J. Ashton, Rajesh Kalaria, Henrik Zetterberg, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Rufus O. Akinyemi, Andrea L. Benedet
Institutions: University of Gothenburg, University of Ibadan, Lead City University, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, University of Florence, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Universidad Andrés Bello, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Millennium Institute for Care Research, Newcastle University, Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Aga Khan University Nairobi, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, University of Miami, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Bordeaux, Inserm, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Sorbonne Université, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Bordeaux Population Health, Institut du Cerveau, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, UK Dementia Research Institute, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W7166888568