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Blood Plasma Coenzyme Q 10 and P-Selectin Are Predictive Factors for Mild Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Women
Cabezas-Vinueza LP, Rivoira MA, Garzón RdlB, Rodríguez-Bies E, Alarcón Rubio D, Amian JG, Fernandez-Portero C, López-Lluch G.. Preprints.org, 2026-10-13
Topic: Plasma and spinal-fluid biomarkers
Detection of the early phases of cognitive dysfunction is critical for identifying individuals at risk of neurodegeneration before irreversible damage occurs. High levels of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in plasma are associated with high cognitive and executive capacities. Maintenance of endothelial function is also an important factor in the prevention of neurodegeneration and dementia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine plasma markers of endothelial health that, in conjunction with CoQ10, can effectively serve as predictors of cognitive dysfunction in a cohort of 45 elderly women (78.36 ± 8.41 years) from Seville, Spain. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, we assessed cognitive and executive capacities via the widely used MMSE-30 and FAB-E scales. Physiological health was evaluated through plasma biomarkers (including GDF-15, GFAP, BDNF, P-selectin, NfL, and p-Tau181) and the determination of CoQ10 levels. Furthermore, the study also analyzed exosome levels by measuring CD63, and their content in DNA and mtDNA. Our results indicate that low plasma CoQ10, elevated P-selectin (P-sel), and reduced exosomal DNA content can serve as early warning signs of neurodegeneration, appearing before traditional markers like GFAP, NfL, or p-Tau181. Our results indicate a link between CoQ10 levels, endothelial damage, and cognitive dysfunction risk.
Key findings
- High levels of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in plasma are associated with high cognitive and executive capacities.
- Our results indicate that low plasma CoQ10, elevated P-selectin (P-sel), and reduced exosomal DNA content can serve as early warning signs of neurodegeneration, appearing before traditional markers like GFAP, NfL, or p-Tau181.
- Our results indicate a link between CoQ10 levels, endothelial damage, and cognitive dysfunction risk.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 31 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / 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 multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 19 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 31 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (Preprints.org) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation 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 |
| Multi-centre 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 | 19 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 19 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 31 out of 100. |
| Total | 31 / 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 →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cabezas-Vinueza, L. P., Rivoira, M. A., RdlB, G., Rodríguez-Bies, E., Alarcón Rubio, D., Amian, J. G., et al. (2026). Blood Plasma Coenzyme Q 10 and P-Selectin Are Predictive Factors for Mild Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Women. Preprints.org. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202610.1228.v1
Vancouver
Cabezas-Vinueza LP, Rivoira MA, RdlB G, Rodríguez-Bies E, Alarcón Rubio D, Amian JG, et al. Blood Plasma Coenzyme Q 10 and P-Selectin Are Predictive Factors for Mild Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Women. Preprints.org. 2026. doi:10.20944/preprints202610.1228.v1.
BibTeX
@article{cabezasvinueza2026-ca662b7e,
author = {Cabezas-Vinueza, L. P. and Rivoira, M. A. and RdlB, Garzón and Rodríguez-Bies, E. and Alarcón Rubio, D. and Amian, J. G. and Fernandez-Portero, C. and López-Lluch, G.},
title = {{Blood Plasma Coenzyme Q 10 and P-Selectin Are Predictive Factors for Mild Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Women}},
journal = {Preprints.org},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.20944/preprints202610.1228.v1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202610.1228.v1}
}
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