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Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
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Biomarkers
Aaron Kin Fu Lam1,2,3, Johannes C Michaelian2,4,5, Rachael Yu2,3
1Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|December 25, 2025
Summary
Altered REM sleep slowing is linked to lower amyloid-beta 42/40 levels in older adults. This suggests REM slowing may serve as an early biomarker for Alzheimer's disease neuropathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Altered sleep neurophysiology may indicate early brain pathology.
- No prior studies linked sleep neurophysiology to blood-based neurodegeneration biomarkers.
- Investigated associations between blood biomarkers and sleep in cognitively impaired older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if blood-based Alzheimer's and neurodegeneration biomarkers correlate with sleep neurophysiology.
- To explore potential early markers of brain pathology in older adults with cognitive concerns.
Main Methods:
- Recruited adults aged 50+ with cognitive/mood concerns.
- Classified participants as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective cognitive impairment (SCI).
- Measured plasma biomarkers (Aβ42/40, GFAP, NFL, pTau181) and sleep metrics (spindle density, theta/delta power, REM slowing) via polysomnography and blood tests.
Main Results:
- MCI group had lower Aβ42/40 and higher GFAP, NFL, pTau181 than SCI group.
- Aβ42/40 associated with spindle density and REM slowing.
- GFAP linked to spindle density.
- REM slowing remained a significant predictor of Aβ42/40 after adjusting for clinical status and age.
Conclusions:
- REM slowing is a robust marker associated with plasma Aβ42/40.
- REM slowing may indicate early neuropathological changes, potentially reflecting amyloid accumulation.
- Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality between sleep neurophysiology and AD biomarkers.
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