Journal Article Ppublish
PubMed: 40545553 DOI: 10.1002/alz.70411
Multimorbidity patterns and blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in community-dwelling cognitively unimpaired older adults.
Alzheimers Dement 21(6):e70411
Authors: Alessandra Marengoni, Giulia Grande, Martina Valletta, Caterina Gregorio, Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga, Matilda Dale, Claudia Fredolini, Bengt Winblad, Davide Liborio Vetrano
Affiliations
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
- Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Affinity Proteomics Stockholm, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Solna, Sweden.
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
- Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Alzheimer's disease (AD) blood biomarkers hold clinical potential but their concentration may vary with somatic conditions.
METHODS
We investigated the concentration of six AD blood biomarkers in relation to multimorbidity as disease count and four multimorbidity patterns in 2290 cognitively unimpaired older adults.
RESULTS
Levels of phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181, p-tau217, neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) increased with increasing number of diseases. In multi-adjusted regressions, compared to individuals without multimorbidity, the anemia/sensory impairment pattern was associated with altered levels of all biomarkers except amyloid beta (Aβ)42/40, GFAP, and total tau (p-tau181: β = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08, 0.28; p-tau217: β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.18; NfL: β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.21) and the cardiometabolic/inflammatory pattern was associated with altered levels of all biomarkers except Aβ42/40 and GFAP (p-tau181: β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.36; p-tau217: β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.32; NfL: β = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.40; total tau: β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.39). Results remained unchanged after excluding those who developed dementia in 15 years.
DISCUSSION
More diseases and specific multimorbidity patterns altered the levels of several AD blood biomarkers, highlighting caution when using them in adults with complex health profiles.
HIGHLIGHTS
In cognitively unimpaired older adults blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease varied depending on the number of chronic diseases and specific patterns of multimorbidity. Phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181, p-tau217, neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein levels increased along with increasing numbers of chronic diseases. P-tau181, p-tau217, and NfL levels were significantly higher in individuals in the anemia/sensory impairment and cardiometabolic/inflammatory multimorbidity patterns compared to those without multimorbidity. Results remained unchanged after excluding participants who developed dementia during 15-year follow-up.
MeSH
Dementia, Chronic Disease, Blood, Anemia, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Alzheimer Disease, Multiple Chronic Conditions, Biomarkers, Multimorbidity