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Plasma Proteomic Correlates of Cognitive Function in Older Adults From Central Africa
Patel SS, Zhang P, Yang J, Crosby M, Obenauf C, Gikelekele G, Epenge E, Potshi JM et al.. medRxiv, 2026-10-24
Topic: Brain imaging, connectivity and assessment
Key Points Question Which candidate plasma proteins are associated with cognitive performance across multiple domains in older adults from the Democratic Republic of Congo? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 779 participants, higher MME was associated with better language, global cognition, and delayed memory; higher NEFL was associated with poorer global cognition and delayed memory; and ENO2 was associated with delayed memory. No p-tau217-based measure remained significant after within-outcome multiple-testing correction. Meaning Plasma markers most closely associated with cognitive phenotype may differ from biomarkers optimized for Alzheimer pathology detection, underscoring the need for population-specific biomarker evaluation. Results Eighteen protein-cognition associations were nominally significant, and 6 remained significant after correction. Higher MME was associated with better language (β=0.143; 95% CI, 0.074-0.212), global cognition (β=0.225; 95% CI, 0.071-0.379), and delayed memory (β=0.312; 95% CI, 0.106-0.519). Higher NEFL was associated with poorer global cognition (β=-0.700; 95% CI, −1.080 to −0.319) and delayed memory (β=-0.773; 95% CI, −1.283 to −0.263). Higher ENO2 was associated with better delayed memory (β=0.560; 95% CI, 0.184-0.937). No p-tau217-based measure remained significant after correction. Biomarkers optimized for Alzheimer pathology detection may differ from those most closely associated with cross-sectional cognitive phenotype, supporting population-specific evaluation of plasma proteomic markers.
Key findings
- Key Points Question Which candidate plasma proteins are associated with cognitive performance across multiple domains in older adults from the Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Findings In this cross-sectional study of 779 participants, higher MME was associated with better language, global cognition, and delayed memory; higher NEFL was associated with poorer global cognition and delayed memory; and ENO2 was associated with delayed memory.
- No p-tau217-based measure remained significant after within-outcome multiple-testing correction.
- Meaning Plasma markers most closely associated with cognitive phenotype may differ from biomarkers optimized for Alzheimer pathology detection, underscoring the need for population-specific biomarker evaluation.
- Results Eighteen protein-cognition associations were nominally significant, and 6 remained significant after correction.
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Study details
- Study designprospective cohort
- Participants779
- Effect size63.5%; 36.5%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 47 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on 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 29 of the 62 points we could judge it on, which is 47 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (medRxiv) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A prospective cohort study, followed forward from enrollment |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 779 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 29 / 62 | Scored on 12 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 29 of the 62 points we could judge it on is 47 out of 100. |
| Total | 47 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
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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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Patel, S. S., Zhang, P., Yang, J., Crosby, M., Obenauf, C., Gikelekele, G., et al. (2026). Plasma Proteomic Correlates of Cognitive Function in Older Adults From Central Africa. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.22.26366214
Vancouver
Patel SS, Zhang P, Yang J, Crosby M, Obenauf C, Gikelekele G, et al. Plasma Proteomic Correlates of Cognitive Function in Older Adults From Central Africa. medRxiv. 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.10.22.26366214.
BibTeX
@article{patel2026-8134b2bd,
author = {Patel, S. S. and Zhang, P. and Yang, J. and Crosby, M. and Obenauf, C. and Gikelekele, G. and Epenge, E. and Potshi, J. M. and others},
title = {{Plasma Proteomic Correlates of Cognitive Function in Older Adults From Central Africa}},
journal = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.22.26366214},
url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.22.26366214}
}
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