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Plasma NT1-tau and Aβ42correlate with age and cognitive function in two large Down syndrome cohorts
Stern AM, Van Pelt KL, Liu L, Anderson AK, Ostaszewski B, Mapstone M, O’Bryant S, Petersen ME et al.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2023-03-10
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Structured Abstract Introduction People with Down syndrome (DS) often develop Alzheimer disease (AD). Here we asked whether ultrasensitive plasma immunoassays for a tau N-terminal fragment (NT1-tau) and Aβ isoforms predict cognitive impairment. Methods Plasma NT1-tau, Aβ 37 , Aβ 40 , and Aβ 42 levels were measured in a longitudinal discovery cohort (N = 85 participants, 220 samples) and a cross-sectional validation cohort (N = 239).
Key findings
- Here we asked whether ultrasensitive plasma immunoassays for a tau N-terminal fragment (NT1-tau) and Aβ isoforms predict cognitive impairment.
- Methods Plasma NT1-tau, Aβ 37 , Aβ 40 , and Aβ 42 levels were measured in a longitudinal discovery cohort (N = 85 participants, 220 samples) and a cross-sectional validation cohort (N = 239).
- We developed linear models and predicted values in the validation cohort.
- Results Linear mixed models for NT1-tau, Aβ 42, and Aβ 37:42 were significant for age, there was no main effect of time in the discovery cohort.
Why it matters
In two large Down syndrome cohorts, blood levels of NT1-tau and Aβ42 were related to age and cognitive function. These are candidate blood markers that may help track cognitive impairment, but the study does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants85
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in 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 and impact for its field and year, so those were left out: it earned 44 of the 90 points we could judge it on, which is 49 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in 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 | 1 / 4 | 85 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.4 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| 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 | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Elizabeth Head: h-index 98 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37438872) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 44 / 90 | Scored on 18 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 44 of the 90 points we could judge it on is 49 out of 100. |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Stern, A. M., Van Pelt, K. L., Liu, L., Anderson, A. K., Ostaszewski, B., Mapstone, M., et al. (2023). Plasma NT1-tau and Aβ42correlate with age and cognitive function in two large Down syndrome cohorts. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.10.23287109
Vancouver
Stern AM, Van Pelt KL, Liu L, Anderson AK, Ostaszewski B, Mapstone M, et al. Plasma NT1-tau and Aβ42correlate with age and cognitive function in two large Down syndrome cohorts. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2023. doi:10.1101/2023.03.10.23287109.
BibTeX
@article{stern2023-cdf6b8dd,
author = {Stern, A. M. and Van Pelt, K. L. and Liu, L. and Anderson, A. K. and Ostaszewski, B. and Mapstone, M. and O’Bryant, S. and Petersen, M. E. and others},
title = {{Plasma NT1-tau and Aβ42correlate with age and cognitive function in two large Down syndrome cohorts}},
journal = {Alzheimer's \& dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1101/2023.03.10.23287109},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.10.23287109}
}
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