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Impaired lung function is associated with elevated blood biomarkers of AD/ADRD: unraveling the interplay with risk of dementia
Vivek S, Crimmins EM, Kim JK, Faul J, Jacobs DR, Guan W, Thyagarajan B.. Scientific reports, 2026-04-14
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background and Objectives: Impaired lung function (ILF) has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia risk in multiple cohorts, yet the role of circulating Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers in this relationship is not well understood. We aimed to assess the associations of ILF with AD-related blood biomarkers and to evaluate whether these biomarkers statistically accounted for part of the observed association between ILF and incident dementia. Methods: Serum p-Tau181 and plasma Aβ42/40, NfL, and GFAP were measured in 4,072 participants (mean age 66 ± 10 years; 59% women) in the 2016 Health and Retirement Study.
Key findings
- We aimed to assess the associations of ILF with AD-related blood biomarkers and to evaluate whether these biomarkers statistically accounted for part of the observed association between ILF and incident dementia.
- Methods: Serum p-Tau181 and plasma Aβ42/40, NfL, and GFAP were measured in 4,072 participants (mean age 66 ± 10 years; 59% women) in the 2016 Health and Retirement Study.
- Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) was assessed in 2012/2014, and cognitive function was measured at four time points between 2014 and 2020 (every two years) to determine dementia status.
- Multivariable regression examined associations between ILF and AD biomarkers.
Why it matters
In 4,072 participants, impaired lung function was associated with higher blood biomarkers of AD/ADRD, and these biomarkers statistically accounted for part of the link between impaired lung function and incident dementia. This is about understanding risk factors and markers, not about a treatment or cure.
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 41981149) |
| 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: 41981149
- 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., 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 J, 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: 41981149.
BibTeX
@article{vivek2026-41981149,
author = {Vivek, S. and Crimmins, E. M. and Kim, J. K. and Faul, J. and Jacobs, D. R. and Guan, W. and Thyagarajan, B.},
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 = {41981149},
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.