Association Between Plasma Biomarkers of Amyloid, Tau, and Neurodegeneration with Cerebral Microbleeds

Stuart J. McCarter, Timothy G. Lesnick, Val J. Lowe, Alejandro A. Rabinstein, Scott A. Przybelski, Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Vijay K. Ramanan, Clifford R. Jack, Ronald C. Petersen, David S. Knopman, Bradley F. Boeve, Kejal Kantarci, Prashanthi Vemuri, Michelle M. Mielke, Jonathan Graff-Radford

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a common vascular pathology associated with future intracerebral hemorrhage. Plasma biomarkers of amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration may provide a screening avenue to identify those with CMBs, but evidence is conflicting. Objective: To determine the association between plasma biomarkers (Aβ40, Aβ42, t-tau, p-tau181, p-tau217, neurofilament light chain (NfL)) and CMBs in a population-based study of aging and whether these biomarkers predict higher signal on Aβ-PET imaging in patients with multiple CMBs. Methods: 712 participants from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging with T2* GRE MRI and plasma biomarkers were included. Biomarkers were analyzed utilizing Simoa (Aβ40, Aβ42, t-tau, NfL) or Meso Scale Discovery (p-tau181, p-tau217) platforms. Cross-sectional associations between CMBs, plasma biomarkers and Aβ-PET were evaluated using hurdle models and multivariable regression models. Results: Among the 188 (26%) individuals with≥1 CMB, a lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was associated with more CMBs after adjusting for covariables (IRR 568.5 95% CI 2.8-116,127). No other biomarkers were associated with risk or number CMBs. In 81 individuals with≥2 CMBs, higher plasma t-tau, p-tau181, and p-tau217 all were associated with higher Aβ-PET signal, with plasma p-tau217 having the strongest predictive value (r2 0.603, AIC -53.0). Conclusion: Lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and higher plasma p-tau217 were associated with brain amyloidosis in individuals with CMBs from the general population. Our results suggest that in individuals with multiple CMBs and/or lobar intracranial hemorrhage that a lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio or elevated p-tau217 may indicate underlying cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1537-1547
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume87
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Amyloid-β
  • PiB-PET
  • biomarker
  • cerebral microbleed
  • plasma
  • tau

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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