Relationships between plasma biomarkers, tau PET, FDG PET, and volumetric MRI in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Matthews Dawn C. , Kinney Jefferson W. , Ritter Aaron , Andrews Randolph D. , Toledano Strom Erin N. , Lukic Ana S. , Koenig Lauren N. , Revta Carolyn , Fillit Howard M. , Zhong Kate , Tousi Babak , Leverenz James B. , Feldman Howard H. , Cummings Jeffrey 
Published: July 2024

INTRODUCTION

The “A/T/N” (amyloid/tau/neurodegeneration) framework provides a biological basis for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and can encompass additional changes such as inflammation (“I”). A spectrum of T/N/I imaging and plasma biomarkers was acquired in a phase 2 clinical trial of rasagiline in mild to moderate AD patients. We evaluated these to understand biomarker distributions and relationships within this population.

METHODS

Plasma biomarkers of pTau‐181, neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), other inflammation‐related proteins, imaging measures including fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), flortaucipir PET, and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cognitive endpoints were analyzed to assess characteristics and relationships for the overall population (N = 47 at baseline and N = 21 for longitudinal cognitive comparisons) and within age‐decade subgroups (57‐69, 70‐79, 80‐90 years).

RESULTS

Data demonstrate wide clinical and biomarker heterogeneity in this population influenced by age and sex. Plasma pTau‐181 and GFAP correlate with tau PET, most strongly in left inferior temporal cortex (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0006, respectively). In regions beyond temporal cortex, tau PET uptake decreased with age for the same pTau‐181 or GFAP concentrations. FDG PET and brain volumes correlate with tau PET in numerous regions (such as inferior temporal: p = 0.0007, p = 0.00001, respectively). NfL, GFAP, and all imaging modalities correlate with baseline MMSE; subsequent MMSE decline is predicted by baseline parahippocampal and lateral temporal tau PET (p = 0.0007) and volume (p = 0.0006). Lateral temporal FDG PET (p = 0.006) and volume (p = 0.0001) are most strongly associated with subsequent ADAS‐cog decline. NfL correlates with FDG PET and baseline MMSE but not tau PET. Inflammation biomarkers are intercorrelated but correlated with other biomarkers in only the youngest group.

DISCUSSION

Associations between plasma biomarkers, imaging biomarkers, and cognitive status observed in this study provide insight into relationships among biological processes in mild to moderate AD. Findings show the potential to characterize AD patients regarding likely tau pathology, neurodegeneration, prospective clinical decline, and the importance of covariates such as age.

Highlights

Plasma pTau‐181 and GFAP correlated with regional and global tau PET in mild to moderate AD.

NfL correlated with FDG PET and cognitive endpoints but not plasma pTau‐181 or tau PET.

Volume and FDG PET showed strong relationships to tau PET, one another, and cognitive status.

Temporal volumes most strongly predicted decline in both MMSE and ADAS‐cog.

Volume and plasma biomarkers can enrich for elevated tau PET with age a significant covariate.