Association Plasma Aβ42 Levels with Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Influencing Factors in Chinese Elderly Population

Abstract

Background and Purpose

Intracerebral Aβ protein deposition is an important pathological mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is one of the indicators of early diagnosis of AD. However, invasive lumbar puncture and Aβ PET are difficult to perform in primary units, resulting delays in early diagnosis of AD. In recent years, it has been found that plasma Aβ can reflect the pathological state of AD in early stage, but the results are not consistent. The objective of this study was to explore the association between plasma Aβ42 levels and AD cognitive impairment and its influencing factors in Chinese elderly population, so as to provide guidance for the clinical application of plasma Aβ42 as a blood biomarker of AD.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study based on the community population. Plasma samples were collected from 604 healthy controls (HC), 508 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 202 dementia with Alzheimer’s type (DAT) patients from three cities. We analyzed the correlation between plasma Aβ42 levels and cognitive function and the influence of confounding factors on the relationship between plasma Aβ42 levels and AD. The independent influencing factors of plasma Aβ42 levels were determined by covariance and linear regression analysis.

Results

Our results suggest that there is a special linear relationship between plasma Aβ42 and cognitive impairment of AD in Chinese elderly population, with Aβ42 levels slightly decreased in early AD and significantly increased in moderate-to-severe AD (P<0.01). There are many factors influencing the association between plasma Aβ42 levels and AD cognitive impairment, and sample source, gender and BMI are independent influencing factors of plasma Aβ42.

Conclusion

This indentifies that plasma Aβ42 may be a peripheral biomarker for AD screening in Chinese elderly population, but it is necessary to establish standardized detection methods and establish different demarcation criteria for various influencing factors.

Keywords:

• amyloid-beta 42
• Alzheimer’s disease
• association analysis
• influencing factors
• Chinese elderly population

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participating volunteers, patients and their guardians. This study was supported by the Social Development key Projects in Jiangsu Province (BE2015615), Wuxi Municipal Health Commission (Q202131) and Science and Technology Development Foundation of Nanjing Medical University (NMUB2020292).

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no actual or potential conflict of interest.