Home › Research › Biomarkers
Association of infections and autoimmune conditions with cognition: a study using self-reported conditions and identifying a novel plasma biomarker
Slama PS, Macbale AR, Jedynak BM.. medRxiv, 2026-02-17
Topic: Plasma and spinal-fluid biomarkers
a Structured abstract BACKGROUND Over the past couple of decades, the role of infections, as well as the involvement of the immune system, have been highlighted in the development of dementia. METHOD Data from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention cohort were utilized for the analysis. A history of medical conditions was searched across the cohort, and known infections and autoimmune conditions were recorded for each participant. These conditions were then compared with the diagnosis and cognitive performances of each participant. Furthermore, plasma markers were analyzed using two different protein quantification methods. RESULTS Our analysis revealed poorer cognitive performances among participants with listed medical conditions. In plasma samples, Ab42/ICAM1 was identified as a protein ratio with significant variation across condition statuses. DISCUSSION Our study confirmed that infections and autoimmune conditions contribute to cognitive decline. Ab42/ICAM1 was identified as a relevant marker.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Slama, P. S., Macbale, A. R., & Jedynak, B. M. (2026). Association of infections and autoimmune conditions with cognition: a study using self-reported conditions and identifying a novel plasma biomarker. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.13.26346282
Vancouver
Slama PS, Macbale AR, Jedynak BM. Association of infections and autoimmune conditions with cognition: a study using self-reported conditions and identifying a novel plasma biomarker. medRxiv. 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.02.13.26346282.
BibTeX
@article{slama2026-e37446c9,
author = {Slama, P. S. and Macbale, A. R. and Jedynak, B. M.},
title = {{Association of infections and autoimmune conditions with cognition: a study using self-reported conditions and identifying a novel plasma biomarker}},
journal = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.64898/2026.02.13.26346282},
url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.13.26346282}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- These conditions were then compared with the diagnosis and cognitive performances of each participant.
- RESULTS Our analysis revealed poorer cognitive performances among participants with listed medical conditions.
- In plasma samples, Ab42/ICAM1 was identified as a protein ratio with significant variation across condition statuses.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 24 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multicenter collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 15 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 24 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (medRxiv) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multicenter collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 15 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 15 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 24 out of 100. |
| Total | 24 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Free copy unknown: no free-copy check has an answer for this record yet. That does not mean it is paywalled.
Related
Studies in the library that share something with this one. The line above each title says what.
Related studies in Biomarkers
Also tagged “p-tau217”
692 studies in the library carry the topic tag “p-tau217”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 692 tagged studies.