Work

Plasma β‐synuclein associates with hippocampal synaptic density measured with [ 11 C]UCB‐J PET and plasma tau markers in Alzheimer's disease

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: C]UCB-J positron emission tomography (PET), and blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, neurodegeneration, and astrocyte activation need further characterization. METHODS: Middle-aged and older adults with and without cognitive impairment (N = 83 total, 68.7% cognitively unimpaired) underwent blood draw, PET imaging, and neuropsychological testing. Primary analyses focused on relationships between plasma β-synuclein and synaptic density, and associations with related plasma biomarkers (tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 [p-tau217], brain-derived tau [BD-tau], glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], and neurofilament light chain [NfL]). RESULTS: Plasma β-synuclein levels were higher in cognitively unimpaired and impaired participants with positive amyloid PET. Synaptic density was lower in cognitively impaired participants only. In the full sample, higher plasma β-synuclein levels associated with lower synaptic density in the hippocampus, higher concentrations of plasma tau markers, and higher plasma GFAP. DISCUSSION: This work further supports utilization of plasma β-synuclein to track synaptic degeneration in AD.

Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia

DOI: 10.1002/alz.71900