Abstract
The main objective of this study was to determine whether elevated blood beta-amyloid (Abeta) levels among the first-degree relatives of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are associated with vascular risk factors of AD. Serum Abeta was measured in samples from 197 cognitively normal first-degree relatives of patients with AD-like dementia. Study participants were recruited as part of an ancillary study of the Alzheimer's Disease Anti-inflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT subpopulation). The ADAPT subpopulation was found to be similar in age, sex, and ethnicity to another cognitively normal cohort (n = 98). Using cross-sectional analyses, we examined the association of Abeta with blood pressure, lipid levels, apolipoprotein E genotypes, and the use of prescribed medication to treat vascular risk factors in the ADAPT subpopulation. Abeta(1-40) was positively associated with age, use of antihypertensives, and serum creatinine, and we observed a marginal negative interaction on Abeta(1-40) associated with systolic blood pressure and use of antihypertensives. Serum Abeta(1-42) was associated with statin use and a positive correlation of Abeta (1-42) with HDL was observed among statin nonusers. These findings suggest that high Abeta in the periphery among the family history-enriched cohorts may be due to enrichment of vascular risk factors and may reflect presymptomatic AD pathology. It remains to be determined whether the association of Abeta with medications used for treating vascular risk factors indicates prevention of AD. Longitudinal evaluation of blood Abeta in this cohort will provide a better understanding of the significance of this association in AD etiology.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized clinically by progressive cognitive impairment and pathologically by the presence of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
Within the Alzheimer’s Disease Antiinflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT) subpopulation, we examined the association of Aβ with total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum creatinine, and use of prescribed medications to treat vascular risk factors
Difference in hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status, and basic demographics were evaluated between the ADAPT subpopulation and the non-ADAPT group
Summary
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized clinically by progressive cognitive impairment and pathologically by the presence of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The etiology of the rare early-onset familial form of AD has been attributed to mutations in the genes for amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1/2 (PS1/2). These mutations lead to aberrant proteolytic processing by the β- and γ-secretases, followed by increased production of Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 fragments [1]. Aβ1-42 was shown to be higher in patients with mild cognitive impairment compared with both AD patients and controls [7] These findings suggest that alterations in blood Aβ levels may be a reflection of brain Aβ pathology
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
