Effects of Hepatorenal Function on Urinary Alzheimer-Associated Neuronal Thread Protein: A Laboratory-Based Cross-Sectional Study Among the Older Chinese Population

Abstract

Background:

Urinary Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein (AD7c-NTP) is a biomarker for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It remains unclear whether hepatorenal function affects the urinary AD7c-NTP level.

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of hepatorenal function on urinary AD7c-NTP level.

Methods:

We enrolled 453 participants aged 60–100 years. An automated chemistry analyzer was used to determine the indicators of serum hepatorenal function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the urinary AD7c-NTP level.

Results:

Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between urinary AD7c-NTP levels and indicators of hepatorenal function, including albumin (r = –0.181, p < 0.001), albumin/globulin ratio (r = –0.224, p < 0.001), cholinesterase (r = –0.094, p = 0.046), total carbon dioxide (r = –0.102, p = 0.030), and glomerular filtration rate (r = –0.260, p < 0.001), as well as a positive correlation with globulin (r = 0.141, p = 0.003), aspartate transaminase (r = 0.186, p < 0.001), blood urine nitrogen (r = 0.210, p < 0.001), creatinine (r = 0.202, p < 0.001), uric acid (r = 0.229, p < 0.001), and cystatin C (r = 0.265, p < 0.001). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and multiple linear regression model analyses showed that the statistically significant hepatorenal indicators for predicting AD7c-NTP were A/G (p = 0.007), AST (p = 0.002), BUN (p = 0.019), and UA (p = 0.003).

Conclusions:

The effects of hepatorenal indicators should be considered when using urinary AD7c-NTP levels in clinical settings.