The Relationship of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Blood-Based Biomarkers and Informant-Reported Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Differs by Informant Type in Older Adults Without Dementia.

OBJECTIVES

In a sample of community-dwelling older adults, we examined the association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and whether informant type (i.e., spouse vs. child vs. other) modified that association.

METHODS

This study included 430 participants with a cognitively unimpaired or mild cognitive impairment consensus diagnosis from the Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Clinical Core cohort. Informants reported NPS using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. AD/ADRD BBMs included the Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau181, p-tau217, NfL, and GFAP. Generalized linear models were used to examine the associations between AD/ADRD BBMs and NPS. Secondary models adjusted for age, sex, education, race, and cognitive status. Tertiary models adjusted for covariates in secondary models, as well as informant type. Interactions between informant type and AD/ADRD BBMs were examined.

RESULTS

Higher p-tau217 was associated with higher NPS in both unadjusted models and models adjusted for demographics and cognitive status. This association was attenuated and no longer statistically significant after additionally adjusting for informant type. Significant interactions of informant type and p-tau181 or p-tau217 on NPS were demonstrated, where p-tau181 or p-tau217 were more strongly associated with NPS reported by children compared to spouses.

CONCLUSIONS

Informant type modified the association between AD/ADRD BBMs and NPS, with stronger associations observed when symptoms were reported by child informants compared to spouse informants. These findings have important implications for earlier detection of individuals with AD/ADRD pathologies.