AUTHOR=Chen Ting-Bin , Lin Kun-Ju , Lin Szu-Ying , Lee Yi-Jung , Lin Yi-Cheng , Wang Chen-Yu , Chen Jun-Peng , Wang Pei-Ning 

TITLE=Prediction of Cerebral Amyloid Pathology Based on Plasma Amyloid and Tau Related Markers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.619388

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.619388

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background and Purpose:</bold> Pyroglutamate-modified β-amyloid peptide (Aβ<sub>pE</sub>) is crucial for AD pathophysiological process. The potential associations of plasma Aβ<sub>pE</sub> and total tau (t-tau) with brain Aβ burden and cognitive performance remain to be clarified.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Forty-six subjects with unimpaired cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or very mild dementia were enrolled. Plasma levels of Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub>, t-tau, and Aβ42 were quantified by immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) assays. We analyzed individual and combined biomarker correlations with neuropsychological scores and Aβ positivity determined by <sup>18</sup>F-florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Both plasma Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub> levels and Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub>/t-tau ratios correlated negatively with short-term memory and global cognition scores, while correlating positively with PET standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs). Among the biomarkers analyzed, the combination of Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub> in a ratio with t-tau had the best discriminatory ability for Aβ PET positivity. Likewise, logistic regression analysis showed that Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub>/t-tau was a highly robust predictor of Aβ PET positivity after controlling for relevant demographic covariates.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Plasma Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub>/t-tau ratios correlate with cognitive function and cerebral Aβ burden. The suitability of Aβ<sub>pE3−40</sub>/t-tau as a candidate clinical biomarker of AD pathology in the brain should be examined further in larger studies.</p>