Confounding factors of Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers and their impact on clinical performance

• Introduction Plasma biomarkers will likely revolutionize the diagnostic work-up of Alzheimer's disease (AD) globally. Before widespread use, we need to determine if confounding factors affect the levels of these biomarkers, and their clinical utility. Methods Participants with plasma and CSF biomarkers, creatinine, body mass index (BMI), and medical history data were included (BioFINDER-1: n = 748, BioFINDER-2: n = 421). We measured beta-amyloid (A beta 42, A beta 40), phosphorylated tau (p-tau217, p-tau181), neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results In both cohorts, creatinine and BMI were the main factors associated with NfL, GFAP, and to a lesser extent with p-tau. However, adjustment for BMI and creatinine had only minor effects in models predicting either the corresponding levels in CSF or subsequent development of dementia. Discussion Creatinine and BMI are related to certain plasma biomarkers levels, but they do not have clinically relevant confounding effects for the vast majority of individuals. Highlights Creatinine and body mass index (BMI) are related to certain plasma biomarker levels. Adjusting for creatinine and BMI has minor influence on plasma-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) associations. Adjusting for creatinine and BMI has minor influence on prediction of dementia using plasma biomarkers.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

amyloid

cerebrospinal fluid

dementia

glial fibrillary acidic protein

neurofilament light

p-tau

body-mass index

amyloid-beta

prediction

creatinine

pathology

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)