Plasma Protein Study Reveals Dementia Biomarkers

A study led by an international research group from University College London and the University of Helsinki has identified 15 novel biomarkers that are linked to late-onset dementias. The team found that these proteins were related to immune system dysfunction, blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, vascular pathologies, and central insulin resistance. Their findings were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 

“These findings provide novel avenues for further studies to examine whether drugs targeting these proteins could prevent or delay the development of dementia,” says lead author Joni Lindbohm. In this study, the authors were able to analyze proteins with novel large-scale protein panels from stored blood samples of the British Whitehall II and US Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study collected 20 years ago. 

Using a panel of 5,000 proteins measured from plasma, the researchers identified proteins that predicted cognitive decline in 5-yearly screenings and subsequent onset of clinical dementia. The 15 proteins predicted dementia in both the British and US cohorts.  

“This new study is the first step in our 5-year Wellcome Trust funded research program. We will next examine whether the identified proteins have a causal association with dementia and whether they are likely to be modifiable, and druggable,” concludes researcher Mika Kivimäki.