Biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• Vascular risk factors are linked to increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia risk.
• Previous research shows complex interactions between vascular pathology and AD.
• This study investigates individual vascular risk factors' association with amyloid and tau burden in cognitively normal individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate associations between individual vascular risk factors and amyloid/tau burden.
• To determine if vascular factors and their treatments influence the amyloid-tau relationship.
• To explore how hypertension and hyperlipidemia treatments affect AD pathology progression.

Main Methods:

• Positron emission tomography ([18F]-NAV4694 and [18F]-AV1451) was used on 241 cognitively unimpaired older adults.
• Associations between vascular factors (ApoE status, BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure) and amyloid-beta (Aβ) or tau burden were examined.
• Interactions between Aβ, vascular factors, and treatments were analyzed to predict tau burden.

Main Results:

• ApoE4 status significantly correlated with amyloid burden and its change.
• Abnormal HDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure levels intensified tau PET increase at given amyloid PET levels.
• Untreated hypertension showed a stronger amyloid-related increase in tau, with treatments alleviating this effect.

Conclusions:

• Untreated hyperlipidemia and hypertension are linked to accelerated amyloid-related tau pathology in AD.
• Hypertension treatment appears to mitigate the influence of vascular risk factors on tau pathology.
• These findings highlight the importance of managing vascular health in AD prevention.