Alzheimer Disease Blood Biomarkers and Cognition Among Individuals With Diabetes and Overweight or Obesity
Authors: Mielke Michelle M. , Evans Joni K. , Neiberg Rebecca H. , Molina-Henry Doris P. , Marcovina Santica M. , Johnson Karen C. , Carmichael Owen T. , Rapp Stephen R. , Sachs Bonnie C. , Ding Jingzhong , Shappell Heather M. , Luchsinger Jose A. , Espeland Mark A. , Hayden Kathleen M. 
Published: February 2025

Importance

Blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) are clinically available to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), but their association with cognition among older adults with specific chronic conditions has not been examined.

Objective

To longitudinally examine associations between baseline AD and ADRD BBMs and change in BBMs with cognition among participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study was a clinical trial of older adults with T2D and overweight or obesity randomized to a 10-year intensive lifestyle intervention for weight loss or a diabetes support and education condition. Participants were recruited and followed up at 16 clinical sites across the US. Enrollment occurred from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2004. The primary intervention spanned the first 4 years after participants’ enrollment (January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2011). The clinical trial was stopped in September 2012 and was converted to an observational study. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and 8 to 12 years later. Cognitive assessments were performed from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014, and from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. Data for the present cohort study were analyzed between January and August 2024.

Exposures

Baseline and 8- to 12-year change in plasma levels of amyloid-β (Aβ)40, Aβ42, Aβ42/40 ratio, phosphorylated tau 181 (pTau-181), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Cognitive composite z score and adjudicated mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia.

Results

The mean (SD) baseline age of 758 participants was 61.5 (6.1) years, and 424 participants [55.9%] were female. Mean (SD) body mass index was 34.8 (5.3). Of the participants, 373 were randomized to diabetes support and education and 385 to intensive lifestyle intervention. Increasing baseline BBM levels were not associated with any cognitive composite z score. Increasing levels of NfL (β = −0.032 [SE, 0.013]; P = .01) and GFAP (β = −0.087 [SE, 0.025]; P &amp;lt; .001), but not the Aβ42/40 ratio (β = 0.006 [SE, 0.040]; P = .88) or pTau-181 (β = 0.026 [SE, 0.025]; P = .31), were associated with worsening cognitive function and incident mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia. The intervention had no association with 8- to 12-year change in BBM levels.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study of participants with T2D and overweight or obesity, increasing plasma NfL and GFAP levels over time, but not Aβ42/40 or pTau-181 levels, were associated with cognitive decline and incident cognitive impairment. These results suggest that plasma NfL and GFAP may be important biomarkers of cognitive change among this patient population.