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Peripheral immune cell imbalance is associated with cortical beta-amyloid deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline
Mehta NH, Zhou L, Li Y, McIntire LB, Nordvig A, Butler T, de Leon M, Chiang GC.. Scientific reports, 2023-05-31
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neuroinflammation is believed to be a key process in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Recently, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratios (LMR) have been proposed to be useful peripheral markers of inflammation. However, it is unclear how these inflammatory ratios relate to AD pathology, such as β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles. Using 18 F-florbetapir and 18 F-flortaucipir positron emission tomography (PET), we sought to determine how the NLR and LMR are associated with AD pathology both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. We further evaluated associations between the NLR and LMR and longitudinal cognitive decline. Using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, we analyzed blood, PET, and cognitive data from 1544 subjects-405 cognitively normal, 838 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 301 with AD. Associations between the NLR and LMR and Aβ and tau on PET were assessed using ordinary least-squares and mixed-effects regression models, while adjusting for age, sex, years of education, and apolipoprotein E ε2 or ε4 carrier status. Associations between the NLR and LMR and cognitive function, as measured by the AD Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, 13-item version, were also assessed. MCI and AD subjects had higher NLR (p = 0.017, p < 0.001, respectively) and lower LMR (p = 0.013, p = 0.023). The NLR, but not the LMR, was significantly associated with Aβ (p = 0.028), suggesting that higher NLR was associated with greater Aβ deposition in the brain. Neither the NLR nor the LMR was associated with tau deposition (p > 0.05). A higher NLR was associated with greater longitudinal cognitive decline (p < 0.001). A higher ratio of peripheral neutrophils to lymphocytes, possibly reflecting an imbalance in innate versus adaptive immunity, is related to greater Aβ deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline. As the field moves toward blood-based biomarkers of AD, the altered balance of innate versus adaptive immunity could be a useful biomarker of underlying pathology and may also serve as a potential therapeutic target.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mehta, N. H., Zhou, L., Li, Y., McIntire, L. B., Nordvig, A., Butler, T., et al. (2023). Peripheral immune cell imbalance is associated with cortical beta-amyloid deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34012-2
Vancouver
Mehta NH, Zhou L, Li Y, McIntire LB, Nordvig A, Butler T, et al. Peripheral immune cell imbalance is associated with cortical beta-amyloid deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline. Scientific reports. 2023. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-34012-2. PMID: 37258519.
BibTeX
@article{mehta2023-37258519,
author = {Mehta, N. H. and Zhou, L. and Li, Y. and McIntire, L. B. and Nordvig, A. and Butler, T. and de Leon, M. and Chiang, G. C.},
title = {{Peripheral immune cell imbalance is associated with cortical beta-amyloid deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline}},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-34012-2},
pmid = {37258519},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34012-2}
}
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.
Key findings
- Using 18 F-florbetapir and 18 F-flortaucipir positron emission tomography (PET), we sought to determine how the NLR and LMR are associated with AD pathology both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
- The NLR, but not the LMR, was significantly associated with Aβ (p = 0.028), suggesting that higher NLR was associated with greater Aβ deposition in the brain.
- Neither the NLR nor the LMR was associated with tau deposition (p > 0.05).
- A higher NLR was associated with greater longitudinal cognitive decline (p < 0.001).
- A higher ratio of peripheral neutrophils to lymphocytes, possibly reflecting an imbalance in innate versus adaptive immunity, is related to greater Aβ deposition and longitudinal cognitive decline.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,544
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 69/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, 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 40 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 69 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific reports) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| 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 | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,544 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 | — / 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 | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37258519) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 40 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 40 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 69 out of 100. |
| Total | 69 / 100 | — |
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