Dementia Biomarkers Associated With Age, Sex, APOE ε4 Status
MONDAY, April 21, 2025 -- Dementia biomarkers -- phosphorylated tau (P-tau181), neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) -- are associated with age, sex, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status, according to a study published online April 16 in Neurology.
Hannah Stocker, M.D., from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, and colleagues examined the association of age, sex, APOE ε4 status, and menopause with dementia-related blood biomarker levels and the rate of change in community-dwelling adults during 11 years. Within a population-based cohort study, a nested case-control study was conducted. The nested study included 1,026 participants (1:1 for incident dementia during follow-up:without dementia during follow-up) aged 50 to 75 years at baseline who were followed for 17 years.
The researchers observed cross-sectional and longitudinal significant associations for age with all dementia-related biomarkers. Compared with P-tau181 levels, NfL and GFAP levels correlated more strongly with age at baseline. Significantly higher levels and rates of increase in GFAP were seen for women, while levels of NfL were higher among men, after adjusting for age and APOE ε4. There was a significant association seen for APOE ε4 status with baseline and longitudinal levels of P-tau181 and GFAP. After adjusting for age, sex, and APOE ε4, premenopausal status was significantly associated with higher GFAP levels.
"Gaining a better understanding of these biomarkers will help improve our ability to test for dementia in the future with simple blood tests," Stocker said in a statement. "Our research underscores the need to further explore these biomarkers, including during menopause, in the development of dementia."
One author disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies; one author has study-related patents issued and pending.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
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