Plasma phosphorylated tau-217 exhibits sex-specific prognostication of cognitive decline and brain atrophy in cognitively unimpaired adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Accumulating evidence indicates disproportionate tau burden and tau-related clinical progression in females. However, sex differences in plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 prediction of subclinical cognitive and brain changes are unknown.

Methods

We measured baseline plasma p-tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) in 163 participants (85 cognitively unimpaired [CU], 78 mild cognitive impairment [MCI]). In CU, linear mixed effects models examined sex differences in plasma biomarker prediction of longitudinal domain-specific cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Cognitive models were repeated in MCI.

Results

In CU females, baseline plasma p-tau217 predicted verbal memory and medial temporal lobe trajectories such that

SUBMITTER: Saloner R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10843677 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature