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Plasma biomarkers associated with the apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimer disease
Soares HD, Potter WZ, Pickering E, Kuhn M, Immermann FW, Shera DM, Ferm M, Dean RA et al.. Archives of neurology, 2012-10-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background A blood-based test that could be used as a screen for Alzheimer disease (AD) may enable early intervention and better access to treatment. Objective To apply a multiplex immunoassay panel to identify plasma biomarkers of AD using plasma samples from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort. Design Cohort study. Setting The Biomarkers Consortium Alzheimer's Disease Plasma Proteomics Project. Participants Plasma samples at baseline and at 1 year were analyzed from 396 (345 at 1 year) patients with mild cognitive impairment, 112 (97 at 1 year) patients with AD, and 58 (54 at 1 year) healthy control subjects. Main outcome measures Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were used to examine differences across diagnostic groups and relative to the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype. Results Increased levels of eotaxin 3, pancreatic polypeptide, and N-terminal protein B-type brain natriuretic peptide were observed in patients, confirming similar changes reported in cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with AD and MCI. Increases in tenascin C levels and decreases in IgM and ApoE levels were also observed. All participants with Apo ε3/ε4 or ε4/ε4 alleles showed a distinct biochemical profile characterized by low C-reactive protein and ApoE levels and by high cortisol, interleukin 13, apolipoprotein B, and gamma interferon levels. The use of plasma biomarkers improved specificity in differentiating patients with AD from controls, and ApoE plasma levels were lowest in patients whose mild cognitive impairment had progressed to dementia. Conclusions Plasma biomarker results confirm cerebrospinal fluid studies reporting increased levels of pancreatic polypeptide and N-terminal protein B-type brain natriuretic peptide in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment. Incorporation of plasma biomarkers yielded high sensitivity with improved specificity, supporting their usefulness as a screening tool. The ApoE genotype was associated with a unique biochemical profile irrespective of diagnosis, highlighting the importance of genotype on blood protein profiles.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Soares, H. D., Potter, W. Z., Pickering, E., Kuhn, M., Immermann, F. W., Shera, D. M., et al. (2012). Plasma biomarkers associated with the apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimer disease. Archives of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2012.1070
Vancouver
Soares HD, Potter WZ, Pickering E, Kuhn M, Immermann FW, Shera DM, et al. Plasma biomarkers associated with the apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimer disease. Archives of neurology. 2012. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2012.1070. PMID: 22801723.
BibTeX
@article{soares2012-22801723,
author = {Soares, H. D. and Potter, W. Z. and Pickering, E. and Kuhn, M. and Immermann, F. W. and Shera, D. M. and Ferm, M. and Dean, R. A. and others},
title = {{Plasma biomarkers associated with the apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Archives of neurology},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1001/archneurol.2012.1070},
pmid = {22801723},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2012.1070}
}
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Key findings
- Results Increased levels of eotaxin 3, pancreatic polypeptide, and N-terminal protein B-type brain natriuretic peptide were observed in patients, confirming similar changes reported in cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with AD and MCI.
- Conclusions Plasma biomarker results confirm cerebrospinal fluid studies reporting increased levels of pancreatic polypeptide and N-terminal protein B-type brain natriuretic peptide in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment.
- The ApoE genotype was associated with a unique biochemical profile irrespective of diagnosis, highlighting the importance of genotype on blood protein profiles.
Why it matters
In this cohort, several plasma proteins differed between people with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment and controls, and the APOE genotype was linked to a distinct biochemical profile. These findings are about blood-based screening and do not show a treatment, cure, or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following 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 (Archives of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Archives of Neurology: journal h-index 353 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following 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 | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 219 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.7 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 17 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 28 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Holly D Soares: h-index 53 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Bristol-Myers Squibb (United States): institution h-index 770 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22801723) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/archneurol.2012.1070
- PubMed: 22801723
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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