Midlife measurements of plasma amyloid-beta may predict risk for mild cognitive impairment, dementia in late life<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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THURSDAY, Aug. 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Plasma concentrations of amyloid-beta at midlife are associated with the risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia later in life, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Neurology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Kevin J. Sullivan, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, and colleagues examined the association between midlife plasma A \u009f and the risk for MCI and dementia. In a subsample of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort study, plasma A \u009f42<\/sub> and A \u009f40<\/sub> were measured retrospectively for 2,284 participants.<\/p>\n The researchers found that each doubling of midlife A \u009f42<\/sub>:A \u009f40<\/sub> was associated with a significantly lower risk for MCI\/dementia (relative risk ratio, 0.63), only up to about the median (spline model threshold, 0.20). Each standard deviation increase in plasma A \u009f42<\/sub> (10 pg\/mL) was associated with a lower risk for MCI-dementia (relative risk ratio, 0.87), while a higher risk for MCI\/dementia was seen with every standard deviation increase in plasma A \u009f40 <\/sub>(67 pg\/mL; relative risk ratio, 1.15). When repeating models using late-life plasma A \u009f predictors, the associations were comparable but slightly weaker statistically.<\/p>\n “A doubling of this ratio under this threshold at midlife was associated with a 37 percent lower risk of MCI or dementia, which is comparable to about five years of younger age, and a doubling of this ratio under this threshold at late life was comparable to about three years younger age,” Sullivan said in a statement. “Amyloid in the blood may be useful as a biomarker for risk of future cognitive impairment.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n