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Impaired lung function is associated with elevated blood biomarkers of AD/ADRD: unraveling the interplay with risk of dementia
Sithara Vivek, Eileen M. Crimmins, Jung Ki Kim, Jessica D. Faul, David R. Jacobs, Weihua Guan, Bharat Thyagarajan. Scientific Reports, 2026-04-14
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
In total, 881 (21.6%) participants had ILF and 272 (6.8%) participants developed dementia. After adjusting for demographics, education, BMI, smoking, comorbidities, inflammation, eGFR and APOE e4, ILF was associated with a higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.74; 95% CI (1.34, 2.25)). Individuals with ILF had 0.10 SD higher NfL (SE = 0.03; p = 0.004) and 0.09 SD higher p-Tau 181 (SE = 0.03; p = 0.002) compared to those without ILF. In mediation models, higher NfL and p Tau181 accounted for modest proportions of the observed association between ILF and incident dementia, with estimated mediated proportions of 7.3% for NfL and 4.9% for p Tau181. ILF was associated with higher levels of blood biomarkers reflecting neurodegeneration and with increased risk of dementia. NfL and p-Tau181 accounted for modest proportions of this association in mediation analyses, suggesting a limited and exploratory contribution. These findings support further investigation into biological pathways linking lung function and cognitive decline.
Key findings
- In total, 881 (21.6%) participants had ILF and 272 (6.8%) participants developed dementia.
- After adjusting for demographics, education, BMI, smoking, comorbidities, inflammation, eGFR and APOE e4, ILF was associated with a higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.74; 95% CI (1.34, 2.25)).
- Individuals with ILF had 0.10 SD higher NfL (SE = 0.03; p = 0.004) and 0.09 SD higher p-Tau 181 (SE = 0.03; p = 0.002) compared to those without ILF.
- In mediation models, higher NfL and p Tau181 accounted for modest proportions of the observed association between ILF and incident dementia, with estimated mediated proportions of 7.3% for NfL and 4.9% for p Tau181.
- ILF was associated with higher levels of blood biomarkers reflecting neurodegeneration and with increased risk of dementia.
Why it matters
Impaired lung function was associated with a higher risk of dementia and with higher blood NfL and p-Tau181, though these markers explained only modest portions of the link. The authors call for further investigation into biological pathways, so this does not offer a treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Participants4,072
- Effect size21.6%; 6.8%; HR = 1.74
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 3 / 4 | 4,072 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| 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 Bharat Thyagarajan: h-index 47 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Michigan: institution h-index 2,240 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40492085) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-48115-z
- PubMed: 40492085
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
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 names 7 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
Vivek, S., Crimmins, E. M., Kim, J. K., Faul, J. D., Jacobs, D. R., Guan, W., et al. (2026). Impaired lung function is associated with elevated blood biomarkers of AD/ADRD: unraveling the interplay with risk of dementia. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-48115-z
Vancouver
Vivek S, Crimmins EM, Kim JK, Faul JD, Jacobs DR, Guan W, et al. Impaired lung function is associated with elevated blood biomarkers of AD/ADRD: unraveling the interplay with risk of dementia. Scientific Reports. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-48115-z. PMID: 40492085.
BibTeX
@article{vivek2026-40492085,
author = {Vivek, Sithara and Crimmins, Eileen M. and Kim, Jung Ki and Faul, Jessica D. and Jacobs, David R. and Guan, Weihua and Thyagarajan, Bharat},
title = {{Impaired lung function is associated with elevated blood biomarkers of AD/ADRD: unraveling the interplay with risk of dementia}},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-48115-z},
pmid = {40492085},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-48115-z}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.