Plasma amyloid levels within the Alzheimer's process and correlations with central biomarkers

Abstract Introduction Diagnostic relevance of plasma amyloid β (Aβ) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) process yields conflicting results. The objective of the study was to assess plasma levels of Aβ 42 and Aβ 40 in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), nonamnestic MCI, and AD patients and to investigate relationships between peripheral and central biomarkers. Methods One thousand forty participants (417 amnestic MCI, 122 nonamnestic MCI, and 501 AD) from the Biomarker of AmyLoid pepTide and AlZheimer's diseAse Risk multicenter prospective study with cognition, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and magnetic resonance imaging assessments were included. Results Plasma Aβ 1–42 and Aβ 1–40 were lower in AD (36.9 [11.7] and 263 [80] pg/mL) than in amnestic MCI (38.2 [11.9] and 269 [68] pg/mL) than in nonamnestic MCI (39.7 [10.5] and 272 [52] pg/mL), respectively ( P = .01 for overall difference between groups for Aβ 1–42 and P = .04 for Aβ 1–40 ). Globally, plasma Aβ 1–42 correlated with age, Mini–Mental State Examination, and APOE e4 allele. Plasma Aβ 1–42 correlated with all CSF biomarkers in MCI but only with CSF Aβ 42 in AD. Discussion Plasma Aβ was associated with cognitive status and CSF biomarkers, suggesting the interest of plasma amyloid biomarkers for diagnosis purpose.