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Alzheimer's & Dementia

Kidney function linked to Alzheimer’s blood marker in older adults

Among 178 acutely hospitalized older adults, estimated kidney function explained 27% of variation in an Alzheimer’s-related blood marker.

Paper by Jonas Bjørnskov Goll, Ieva Martinaityte, Bjørn-Eivind S Bordewick Kirsebom, +4 more authorsMona Dixon Gundersen · University Hospital of North Norway
Figure 1. Associations between CFS, the mFFP, and plasma biomarkers.
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Figure 1. Associations between CFS, the mFFP, and plasma biomarkers.Associations between CFS, the mFFP, and plasma biomarkers.Goll et al.

Our read

Biomarkers
Studied:
Cross-sectional study of 178 acutely hospitalized older adults
What changed:
Estimated kidney function explained 27% of variation in an Alzheimer’s-related blood marker; lower function was linked to higher levels
The catch:
Estimated glomerular filtration rate is a proxy for kidney function, not a direct measurement
Stake:
An author holds shares in CERimmune Therapeutics.
In the record:
The 95th paper on eGFR with results in people; 390 on record in all.
Why it’s aging research:
It measures an outcome that worsens with age.

Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News

Paper
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In an observational study, researchers assessed 178 adults aged 65 to 95 admitted acutely to a Norwegian hospital. They assessed frailty, a state of reduced resilience to illness and stress, and collected blood within 24 hours of admission.

Phosphorylated tau-217, a modified form of the protein tau linked to Alzheimer’s disease, showed no significant association with frailty. A measure of how well the kidneys filter blood explained 27% of variation in this marker’s levels. Lower estimated kidney function was associated with higher levels. Of the five blood markers tested, only neurofilament light chain, a marker of nerve fiber injury, was significantly associated with frailty. The authors said clinicians need to consider kidney function when interpreting phosphorylated tau-217.

Why it matters

Older adults living with frailty are prone to adverse events during acute hospitalization. The study addresses the search for blood markers that could aid early identification of frailty.

Caveats

Measurements taken at admission cannot establish cause and effect. These findings in acutely hospitalized adults aged 65 to 95 may not extend to younger people or older adults outside hospital.

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