Relationships Between PET and Blood Plasma Biomarkers in Corticobasal Syndrome

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2024 Jun 17

PMID 38885334

Authors

Neha Atulkumar Singh

Alla Alnobani

Jonathan Graff-Radford

Mary M Machulda

Michelle M Mielke

Christopher G Schwarz

Matthew L Senjem

Clifford R Jack Jr

Val J Lowe

Takahisa Kanekiyo

Keith A Josephs

Jennifer L Whitwell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) can result from underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathologies. Little is known about the utility of blood plasma metrics to predict positron emission tomography (PET) biomarker-confirmed AD in CBS.

Methods: A cohort of eighteen CBS patients (8 amyloid beta [Aβ]+; 10 Aβ-) and 8 cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals underwent PET imaging and plasma analysis. Plasma concentrations were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman correlations assessed relationships between plasma concentrations and PET uptake.

Results: CBS Aβ+ group showed a reduced Aβ42/40 ratio, with elevated phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) concentrations, while CBS Aβ- group only showed elevated NfL concentration compared to CU. Both p-tau181 and GFAP were able to differentiate CBS Aβ- from CBS Aβ+ and showed positive associations with Aβ and tau PET uptake.

Discussion: This study supports use of plasma p-tau181 and GFAP to detect AD in CBS. NfL shows potential as a non-specific disease biomarker of CBS regardless of underlying pathology.

Highlights: Plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) concentrations differentiate corticobasal syndrome (CBS) amyloid beta (Aβ)- from CBS Aβ+. Plasma neurofilament light concentrations are elevated in CBS Aβ- and Aβ+ compared to controls. Plasma p-tau181 and GFAP concentrations were associated with Aβ and tau positron emission tomography (PET) uptake. Aβ42/40 ratio showed a negative correlation with Aβ PET uptake.

Citing Articles

Relationships between PET and blood plasma biomarkers in corticobasal syndrome.

Singh N, Alnobani A, Graff-Radford J, Machulda M, Mielke M, Schwarz C Alzheimers Dement. 2024; 20(7):4765-4774.

PMID: 38885334 PMC: 11247700. DOI: 10.1002/alz.13914.

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