Blood Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease are Early Predictors of Dementia Risk
Alzheimer’s disease progresses slowly, with changes in brain biochemistry occurring over many years before symptoms appear. Identifying markers that reflect these changes can help predict the risk of dementia in the future. While these markers may eventually be used to take action beyond lifestyle changes, for now they provide valuable indications of cognitive decline.
Research has shown that plasma biomarkers can be effective in screening for Alzheimer’s disease pathology and neurodegeneration in symptomatic individuals. However, their trajectories in presymptomatic stages are not fully understood. A study using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities project analyzed changes in plasma biomarkers over time and their associations with the development of late-life dementia.
The study found that specific Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in midlife, such as the Aβ42:Aβ40 ratio and p-Tau181, were significantly linked to late-life dementia. In late life, these biomarkers and their changes from midlife were also associated with the incidence of all-cause dementia. These findings suggest the potential of using blood biomarkers as early predictors of dementia risk.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.6619
