Neurology-related protein biomarkers are associated with cognitive ability and brain volume in older age

Sarah E. Harris (), Simon R. Cox, Steven Bell, Riccardo E. Marioni, Bram P. Prins, Alison Pattie, Janie Corley, Susana Muñoz Maniega, Maria Valdés Hernández, Zoe Morris, Sally John, Paola G. Bronson, Elliot M. Tucker-Drob, John M. Starr, Mark E. Bastin, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Adam S. Butterworth and Ian J. Deary
Additional contact information
Sarah E. Harris: University of Edinburgh
Simon R. Cox: University of Edinburgh
Steven Bell: University of Cambridge, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Wort’s Causeway
Riccardo E. Marioni: University of Edinburgh
Bram P. Prins: University of Cambridge, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Wort’s Causeway
Alison Pattie: University of Edinburgh
Janie Corley: University of Edinburgh
Susana Muñoz Maniega: University of Edinburgh
Maria Valdés Hernández: University of Edinburgh
Zoe Morris: The University of Edinburgh, Chancellor’s Building
Sally John: Translational Biology, Biogen
Paola G. Bronson: Translational Biology, Biogen
Elliot M. Tucker-Drob: University of Texas
John M. Starr: University of Edinburgh
Mark E. Bastin: University of Edinburgh
Joanna M. Wardlaw: University of Edinburgh
Adam S. Butterworth: University of Cambridge, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Wort’s Causeway
Ian J. Deary: University of Edinburgh

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Identifying biological correlates of late life cognitive function is important if we are to ascertain biomarkers for, and develop treatments to help reduce, age-related cognitive decline. Here, we investigated the associations between plasma levels of 90 neurology-related proteins (Olink® Proteomics) and general fluid cognitive ability in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936, N = 798), Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 (LBC1921, N = 165), and the INTERVAL BioResource (N = 4451). In the LBC1936, 22 of the proteins were significantly associated with general fluid cognitive ability (β between −0.11 and −0.17). MRI-assessed total brain volume partially mediated the association between 10 of these proteins and general fluid cognitive ability. In an age-matched subsample of INTERVAL, effect sizes for the 22 proteins, although smaller, were all in the same direction as in LBC1936. Plasma levels of a number of neurology-related proteins are associated with general fluid cognitive ability in later life, mediated by brain volume in some cases.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14161-7

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