Home › Research › Biomarkers
Development of language composites for enhanced sensitivity to multiple plasma biomarkers
Deling He, Rebecca E Langhough, Carol Van Hulle, Kristin E Basche, Erin McMullen Jonaitis, Rachael H Wilson, Bruce P. Hermann, Henrik Zetterberg et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The empirical language composite showed superior and consistent sensitivity (faster decline rate) with all three biomarkers. Proper name recall declined uniquely with increased p-tau217, while animal fluency declined selectively with higher NfL and GFAP. An empirical language composite captures holistic cognitive-communicative decline, while individual measures may imply a biomarker-specific language profile. Our findings support the clinical utility of plasma biomarkers and language-specific composites as sensitive early indicators of disease progression. HIGHLIGHTS: Empirical language composite had optimal sensitivity to plasma p-tau217, NfL, GFAP. It comprises words/minute, filled pauses, proper name recall, and animal fluency. It offers potential for language-dominant ADRD precise detection and monitoring.
Key findings
- The empirical language composite showed superior and consistent sensitivity (faster decline rate) with all three biomarkers.
- Proper name recall declined uniquely with increased p-tau217, while animal fluency declined selectively with higher NfL and GFAP.
- An empirical language composite captures holistic cognitive-communicative decline, while individual measures may imply a biomarker-specific language profile.
- Our findings support the clinical utility of plasma biomarkers and language-specific composites as sensitive early indicators of disease progression.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Empirical language composite had optimal sensitivity to plasma p-tau217, NfL, GFAP.
Why it matters
A combined language measure was more sensitive to decline alongside three plasma biomarkers than individual language tests. This may help monitor early progression, but it is a longitudinal observational finding and does not show a treatment effect.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kimberly Diggle Mueller: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41366787) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
He, D., Langhough, R. E., Van Hulle, C., Basche, K. E., Jonaitis, E. M., Wilson, R. H., et al. (2025). Development of language composites for enhanced sensitivity to multiple plasma biomarkers. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70975
Vancouver
He D, Langhough RE, Van Hulle C, Basche KE, Jonaitis EM, Wilson RH, et al. Development of language composites for enhanced sensitivity to multiple plasma biomarkers. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70975. PMID: 41366787.
BibTeX
@article{he2025-41366787,
author = {He, Deling and Langhough, Rebecca E and Van Hulle, Carol and Basche, Kristin E and Jonaitis, Erin McMullen and Wilson, Rachael H and Hermann, Bruce P. and Zetterberg, Henrik and others},
title = {{Development of language composites for enhanced sensitivity to multiple plasma biomarkers}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70975},
pmid = {41366787},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70975}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in Biomarkers
Also in Biomarkers
119 studies in the library are filed under Biomarkers with no topic tag they share with another; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed tour of them. The Biomarkers hub.