Tolulope Akinyemi, Ilaria Pola, Kubra Tan, Oladotun Olalusi, Joseph Yaria, Gabriel Ogunde, Wiebke Traichel, Nesrine Rahmouni, Olabode Oguntiloye, Ayotomiwa Fagbemi, Eniola Cadmus, Femi Popoola, Joseph Therriault, Mayowa Ogunronbi, Dorcas Olujobi, Olaoluwa Famuyiwa, Joshua Akinyemi, Tharick Pascoal, Mayowa Owolabi, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Chinedu T Udeh-Momoh, Olusola Ladokun, Roman Romero-Ortuno, Adesola Ogunniyi, Brian Lawlor, Rajesh Kalaria, Henrik Zetterberg, Andrea L Benedet, Rufus Akinyemi
In low- and middle-income countries, Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitutes a growing public health burden. However, AD biomarkers research remains underrepresented in African populations. This study assesses core biomarkers of AD and their relevance in the African context as potential aid in clinical diagnosis. Nigerian older adults from VALIANT cohort (n = 967) underwent biomarker quantification in plasma (p-tau217, GFAP, NfL, Aβ42 and Aβ40) employing both the Single Molecule Assay (Simoa, Quanterix) and Nucleic acid-Linked Immuno-Sandwich Assay (NULISA, Alamar). Biomarkers were associated with disease severity in clinical-diagnostic and clinical-biological groups, with stepwise increases of p-tau217, NfL and GFAP from cognitively unimpaired to dementia (p < 0.05). Results were consistent across platforms. Comparison between sexes showed higher biomarker levels in male participants across diagnostic groups. A significant effect of apoE-E4 proteotype on p-tau217 levels, after adjusting for age and sex was identified. These findings support the application of plasma AD biomarkers in the African context and the relevance of further AD biomarker research in diverse populations.