Neurobiological markers across joint profiles of subjective cognitive decline and objective cognitive function in older adults

Lu Wan; Chaeryon Kang; Rae Harrison; Patricio Solis-Urra; Kelsey R Sewell; Lauren E Oberlin; Shivangi Jain; Haiqing Huang; George Grove; M Ilyas Kamboh; Bradley P Sutton; Beth E Snitz; Arthur F Kramer; Edward McAuley; Jeffrey M Burns; Charles H Hillman; Eric D Vidoni; Anna L Marsland; Thomas K Karikari; Jill Morris; Kirk I Erickson

doi:10.1002/alz.71743

Back

Neurobiological markers across joint profiles of subjective cognitive decline and objective cognitive function in older adults

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Neurobiological markers across joint profiles of subjective cognitive decline and objective cognitive function in older adults

Lu Wan, Chaeryon Kang, Rae Harrison, Patricio Solis-Urra, Kelsey R Sewell, Lauren E Oberlin, Shivangi Jain, Haiqing Huang, George Grove, M Ilyas Kamboh, …

Alzheimer's & dementia, Vol.22(8), e71743

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71743

PMID: 42576170

Files and links (1)

pdf

Published1.36 MBDownload View

Open Access CC BY-NC-ND V4.0

Abstract

Aged

Aged, 80 and over

Aging

Biomarkers - blood

Brain - diagnostic imaging

Brain - pathology

Cognition - physiology

Cognitive Dysfunction - blood

Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnostic imaging

Cognitive Dysfunction - psychology

Female

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - blood

Humans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Male

Neurofilament Proteins - blood

Neuropsychological Tests

tau Proteins - blood

INTRODUCTION Subjective cognitive concerns frequently diverge from objective cognitive performance in cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults, yet the neurobiological basis of this mismatch remains unclear. METHODS In 648 participants from the Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE), we defined four profiles by integrating subjective and objective cognitive status. We examined associations with plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL), phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a magnetic resonance imaging–based volumetric Alzheimer's disease (AD) signature reflecting atrophy, and brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD). RESULTS Joint profiles were differentially associated with NfL (P = 0.0427) and brain-PAD (P = 0.0296). Follow-up contrasts further indicated higher NfL and lower volumetric AD signature in the concordant lower functioning profile, and higher brain-PAD in discordant profiles. p-tau217 and GFAP did not differ across profiles. DISCUSSION Joint subjective–objective cognitive profiles may capture biologically meaningful heterogeneity relevant to neurodegeneration and brain aging in older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02875301

Details

Title: Neurobiological markers across joint profiles of subjective cognitive decline and objective cognitive function in older adults
Authors/Creators: Lu Wan - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes
Chaeryon Kang - University of Pittsburgh
Rae Harrison - University of Pittsburgh
Patricio Solis-Urra - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes
Kelsey R Sewell - Murdoch University
Lauren E Oberlin - Cornell University
Shivangi Jain - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes
Haiqing Huang - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes
George Grove - University of Pittsburgh
M Ilyas Kamboh - University of Pittsburgh
Bradley P Sutton - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Beth E Snitz - University of Pittsburgh
Arthur F Kramer - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Edward McAuley - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jeffrey M Burns - University of Kansas
Charles H Hillman - Northeastern University
Eric D Vidoni - University of Kansas Medical Center
Anna L Marsland - University of Pittsburgh
Thomas K Karikari - University of Pittsburgh
Jill Morris - University of Kansas Medical Center
Kirk I Erickson - AdventHealth Orlando
Publication Details: Alzheimer's & dementia, Vol.22(8), e71743
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.
Grant note: R01 AG053952 / NIH HHS R35 AG072307 / NIH HHS R35 AG072307 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG053952 / NIA NIH HHS
Identifiers: 991005912983007891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: SDGs in the Output

Metrics

1 Record Views