Plasma Amyloid-β Levels and Prognosis in Incident Dementia Cases of the 3-City Study

Abstract

Studies of plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) levels as potential biomarkers for incident Alzheimer's disease (AD) have yielded contradictory results. We explored the associations between plasma Aβ₄₀, Aβ₄₂, and truncated Aβ levels, and prognosis of dementia in participants of the prospective 3-City Study. 120 aged individuals diagnosed with 2-year incident dementia were followed up for seven years. The associations between Aβ plasma levels and baseline cognitive score, cognitive decline, and death were examined. A higher level of baseline plasma Aβ was associated with worse cognitive status two years prior to incident dementia diagnosis. In incident AD patients, the association was only significant for Aβ₄₀ and Aβ_n-42. In the fast cognitive decliners group, especially in AD cases, a higher level of 5 pg/ml of baseline Aβ₄₂, Aβ_n-42, Aβ_n-42/Aβ_n-40, and Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ ratios were associated with a lower risk of fast cognitive decline based on the Isaacs Set Test score. There was no association between peptide levels and mortality in demented subjects. When assayed at prodromal stage, plasma Aβ levels may be potentially useful markers of fast cognitive decline in individuals who subsequently become demented.