The Relationship Between Plasma Aβ Levels, Cognitive Function and Brain Volumetrics: Sydney Memory and Ageing Study

Objectives: Determine whether (1) a relationship exists between plasma amyloid-β (Aβ)1- 40 and 1-42 peptide levels, brain volumetrics and cognitive performance in elderly individuals with and without amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), (2) plasma Aβ peptide levels differ between apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 carriers and non-carriers and (3) longitudinal changes in cognition and brain volume relate to Aβ levels. Methods: Subjects with aMCI (n = 89) and normal cognition (n = 126) were drawn from the Sydney Memory and Aging Study (Sydney MAS), a population based study of non-demented 70-90 year old individuals; 39 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients were recruited from a specialty clinic. Sydney MAS participants underwent brain MRI scans and were assessed on 19 cognitive measures and were APOE 4 genotyped. Plasma levels of Aβ1-40 and 1-42 were quantified using ELISA. Results: Wave1 plasma levels of Aβ peptides and Aβ1−42/1-40 ratio were lower in aMCI and AD, and Aβ1−42 was positively associated with global cognition and hippocampal volume and negatively with white matter hyperintensities. The relationships of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 were predominantly observed in 4 allele carriers and non-carriers respectively. Longitudinal analysis revealed greater decline in global cognition and memory for the highest quintiles of Aβ1−42 and the ratio measure. Conclusion: Plasma Aβ levels and the Aβ1−42/1-40 ratio are related to cognition and hippocampal volumes, with differential associations of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in 4 carriers and non-carriers. These data support the Aβ sink model of AD pathology, and suggest that plasma Aβ measures may serve as biomarkers of AD.