The performance of plasma p-tau217 in Black middle-aged and older adults

Medical conditions prevalent in Black adults within the United States have been associated with plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217); however, insufficient p-tau217 research has been conducted with Black adults.

Participants included n = 233 predominantly cognitively unimpaired adults enrolled in the African Americans Fighting Alzheimer's in Midlife study. Subsamples had creatinine (n = 137) and positron emission tomography (PET; amyloid-PET = 65 [amyloid-PET-positive = 16/65]; tau-PET = 70). We tested whether p-tau217 (ALZPath, Inc.) varied by medical condition and amyloid- and tau-PET-positivity status and assessed the diagnostic accuracy of p-tau217.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m², cardiovascular disease (CVD), and amyloid- and tau-PET-positive status demonstrated higher p-tau217. Effect sizes (r_pb): eGFR <60 group = 0.48, CVD = 0.25, amyloid-PET-positive status = 0.54; tau-PET-positive status = 0.56. Lower eGFR was related to higher p-tau217 when adjusting for amyloid-PET. For abnormal amyloid-PET and tau-PET, p-tau217 exhibited areas under the curve of 0.90 and 0.89, respectively.

Plasma p-tau217 showed promise as an Alzheimer's biomarker in Black adults; however, kidney function and CVD should be considered when interpreting levels.

Plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) was tested in a sample of Black middle-aged and older adults. Level of p-tau217 was higher in impaired kidney function and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and diabetes were not related to p-tau217. Level of p-tau217 was higher in amyloid- and tau-PET-positive status. Plasma p-tau217 showed good receiver-operating characteristic area under the curve for abnormal amyloid- and tau-PET.