Plasma placental growth factor as a susceptibility biomarker for longitudinal cognitive change

Current biomarkers used to assess cerebrovascular pathology largely reflect end-stage disease, and more sensitive biomarkers are needed. We examined the role of baseline placental growth factor (PlGF) as a susceptibility biomarker for the progression of white matter injury and longitudinal cognitive decline.

A total of 272 functionally intact older adults completed baseline blood draws, with plasma analyzed for PlGF (Meso Scale Discovery), and longitudinal neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing. A subset of 110 participants (n = 110) had banked plasma assayed on a different biomarker platform (NULISAseq) to evaluate replicability.

Higher baseline PlGF was associated with steeper declines in memory and processing speed. Elevated baseline PlGF also associated with greater baseline white matter hyperintensities and lower global fractional anisotropy (FA), but not white matter or FA trajectories.

Elevated baseline plasma PlGF associated with faster declines in cognition even among functionally intact older adults across two biomarker platforms. Our findings highlight PlGF as a potential susceptibility/risk biomarker of vascular-related cognitive decline.

Higher plasma placental growth factor (PlGF) concentrations relate to greater baseline white matter injury. Elevated baseline plasma PlGF associates with steeper cognitive decline over time. PlGF may represent an upstream biomarker of endothelial-related cognitive decline.