Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein in the visual and language variants of Alzheimer's disease

Irene Sintini, Neha Atulkumar Singh, Danni Li, Michelle M. Mielke, Mary M. Machulda, Christopher G. Schwarz, Matthew L. Senjem, Clifford R. Jack, Val J. Lowe, Jonathan Graff-Radford, Keith A. Josephs, Jennifer L. Whitwell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in plasma is a proxy for astrocytic activity and is elevated in amyloid-β (Aβ)-positive individuals, making GFAP a potential blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: We assessed plasma GFAP in 72 Aβ-positive participants diagnosed with the visual or language variant of AD who underwent Aβ- and tau-PET. Fifty-nine participants had follow-up imaging. Linear regression was applied on GFAP and imaging quantities. RESULTS: GFAP did not correlate with Aβ- or tau-PET cross-sectionally. There was a limited positive correlation between GFAP and rates of tau accumulation, particularly in the language variant of AD, although associations were weaker after removing one outlier patient with the highest GFAP level. DISCUSSION: Among Aβ-positive AD participants with atypical presentations, plasma GFAP did not correlate with levels of AD pathology on PET, suggesting that the associations between GFAP and AD pathology might plateau during the advanced phase of the disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • GFAP
  • amyloid-beta
  • atypical Alzheimer's disease
  • tau

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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