Are Plasma Biomarkers Useful in Those Without Dementia?

Plasma biomarkers are emerging as useful biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD), but whether they can identify underlying AD pathology in those without dementia is unknown. Here, researchers analyzed correlations of longitudinal brain imaging and cognitive outcomes with plasma levels of amyloid-β (Aβ42/40), phosphorylated-tau 181 (P-tau181), phosphorylated-tau 217 (P-tau217), and neurofilament light chain in 159 participants without dementia (i.e., normal cognition, subjective cognitive impairment, or mild cognitive impairment), 123 participants with AD dementia, and 35 participants with non-AD dementia. The imaging techniques were 18F-flutemetamol amyloid and 18F-RO948 tau positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI. The researchers also com…