Neurology-related protein biomarkers are associated with cognitive ability and brain volume in older age

Nat Commun. 2020 Feb 10;11(1):800. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-14161-7.

Abstract

Identifying biological correlates of late life cognitive function is important if we are to ascertain biomarkers for, and develop treatments to help reduce, age-related cognitive decline. Here, we investigated the associations between plasma levels of 90 neurology-related proteins (Olink® Proteomics) and general fluid cognitive ability in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936, N = 798), Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 (LBC1921, N = 165), and the INTERVAL BioResource (N = 4451). In the LBC1936, 22 of the proteins were significantly associated with general fluid cognitive ability (β between -0.11 and -0.17). MRI-assessed total brain volume partially mediated the association between 10 of these proteins and general fluid cognitive ability. In an age-matched subsample of INTERVAL, effect sizes for the 22 proteins, although smaller, were all in the same direction as in LBC1936. Plasma levels of a number of neurology-related proteins are associated with general fluid cognitive ability in later life, mediated by brain volume in some cases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging*
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / blood*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Proteomics

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins