Levels of plasma ADAM10 and cognitive performance in older adults with and without Alzheimer’s dementia from a middle‐income country

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia, and its underdiagnosis rates are still challenging, especially in low and middle‐income countries (LMIC) (Pelegrini et al., 2019). Research suggests the potential benefits of blood‐based biomarkers for accurate diagnosis, and ADAM10 is an example (Oliveira et al., 2020). However, more evidence from LMIC, such as Brazil and other Latin American countries, is necessary (Parra et al., 2022).AimTo compare the plasma ADAM10 levels and cognitive performance between healthy older adults and individuals with AD in a Latin American country.MethodsThis is a cross‐sectional study in which healthy older adults (n = 31) and participants with AD (n = 51) had their cognitive performance assessed through MMSE. In addition, a blood sample was collected, and the plasma ADAM10 levels were obtained through SDS‐PAGE and Western‐Blotting analyses. Comparison of means, correlation, and binomial logistic regression analyses were conducted at a significance level of p<0.05.ResultsMost participants were female (61%), whose average age was 76.1 (8.3). The mean years of education and MMSE scores were, respectively, 4.6 (4.1) and 18.8 (8.2). The AD group was older (U = 363.5; p<0.001); had a lower score on MMSE (U = 129; p<0.001), and had higher plasma ADAM10 levels (U = 429; p = 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed a relationship between MMSE score and ADAM10 levels (r = ‐0.225; p = 0.04); age and cognitive performance (r = ‐0.353; p = 0.001); as well as between age and ADAM10 levels (r = 0.324; p = 0.004). Finally, our results suggested that those individuals with higher plasma ADAM10 levels have approximately eleven times more chances of being diagnosed with AD (B = 2.36; S.E. = 0.74; p = 0.001; Exp(B) = 10.63; 95%CI [2.48 – 45.69]).ConclusionThis study showed that levels of ADAM10 are different between healthy older adults and individuals with AD. Specifically, participants with AD have higher plasma ADAM10 levels. Also, low MMSE scores were correlated with higher ADAM10 plasma levels. Finally, people with higher plasma ADAM10 levels have more chances of being diagnosed with AD.