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Associations among cognitive performance, VCAM-1, and GFAP in black adults: The ARCHES study
Ramkrishna K. Singh, Semere Bekena, Alexis I. B. Walker, Yiqi Zhu, JF Trani, Ganesh Muneshwar Babulal. Neurobiology of Aging, 2026-07-07
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Astrocytic injury and endothelial activation are interconnected processes within the neurovascular system that may contribute to variability in cognitive performance among cognitively unimpaired adults. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reflects astrocytic injury, while vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) reflects systemic endothelial activation. We examined whether VCAM-1 modifies associations between GFAP and cognition in cognitively unimpaired Black adults. This cross-sectional analysis included 313 Black adults aged ≥ 45 years enrolled in the Aging Research Characterizing Health Exposome via Social Drivers (ARCHES) study. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC) as the primary outcome and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a secondary outcome. Plasma GFAP and VCAM-1 were quantified using ultrasensitive immunoassays (NULISA™; Alamar Biosciences). Gaussian generalized linear models tested main effects and a VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction, adjusting for age, sex, and years of education; sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), body mass index (BMI), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype. VCAM-1 and GFAP did not show independent associations with PACC; however, the VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction was significant (β = -1.36 × 10⁻⁶, 95% CI: -2.43 × 10⁻⁶ to -2.94 × 10⁻⁷, p = 0.013; FDR p = 0.030; standardized β = -0.118) and remained significant after additional adjustment for ADI, BMI, and APOE ε4 status. Associations were not significant for MoCA. These findings suggest that VCAM-1 may modify the relationship between GFAP and cognitive performance in cognitively unimpaired Black adults.
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APA 7th
Singh, R. K., Bekena, S., Walker, A. I. B., Zhu, Y., Trani, J. F., & Babulal, G. M. (2026). Associations among cognitive performance, VCAM-1, and GFAP in black adults: The ARCHES study. Neurobiology of Aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.07.003
Vancouver
Singh RK, Bekena S, Walker AIB, Zhu Y, Trani JF, Babulal GM. Associations among cognitive performance, VCAM-1, and GFAP in black adults: The ARCHES study. Neurobiology of Aging. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.07.003. PMID: 42431159.
BibTeX
@article{singh2026-42431159,
author = {Singh, Ramkrishna K. and Bekena, Semere and Walker, Alexis I. B. and Zhu, Yiqi and Trani, JF and Babulal, Ganesh Muneshwar},
title = {{Associations among cognitive performance, VCAM-1, and GFAP in black adults: The ARCHES study}},
journal = {Neurobiology of Aging},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.07.003},
pmid = {42431159},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.07.003}
}
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
- VCAM-1 and GFAP did not show independent associations with PACC; however, the VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction was significant (β = -1.36 × 10⁻⁶, 95% CI: -2.43 × 10⁻⁶ to -2.94 × 10⁻⁷, p = 0.013; FDR p = 0.030; standardized β = -0.118) and remained significant after additional adjustment for ADI, BMI, and APOE ε4 status.
- Associations were not significant for MoCA.
- These findings suggest that VCAM-1 may modify the relationship between GFAP and cognitive performance in cognitively unimpaired Black adults.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study of 313 cognitively unimpaired Black adults, VCAM-1 and GFAP showed no independent associations with cognitive performance, but their interaction was significant for the primary outcome and not for the secondary outcome. The findings suggest VCAM-1 may modify the relationship between GFAP and cognition, but this is an early cross-sectional result and does not establish any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants313
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 313 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ganesh Muneshwar Babulal: h-index 31 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42431159) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.07.003
- PubMed: 42431159
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurobiology of Aging →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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