Fockler, Juliet

Importance Advances in Alzheimer disease (AD) have shifted research focus to earlier disease stages, necessitating more scalable approaches to identify cognitively unimpaired individuals with amyloid β (Aβ) pathology. Objective To assess the utility of plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) for classifying Aβ status in cognitively unimpaired individuals, both as a stand-alone test and in a 2-step approach where positive plasma results were confirmed using a second modality (Aβ positron emission tomography [PET] or cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]). Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional cohort study used data collected between June 2009 and March 2024. We included 2916 cognitively unimpaired participants from 12 international independent observational cohorts in the US, Europe, Australia, and Canada with available plasma p-tau217 levels and CSF or PET Aβ biomarkers. Performance comparisons between mass spectrometry and immunoassay-based p-tau217 measurements were also performed (n = 964). Exposures Plasma p-tau217 levels measured by immunoassay. Main Outcome and Measures Aβ status, determined by CSF or Aβ PET biomarkers. Results Participants had a mean (SD) age of 66.9 (9.9) years; 971 (33.3%) were Aβ positive by either CSF or PET, 1667 (57.2%) were women, and 1108 (38.1%) carried at least 1 APOE ε4 allele. As a stand-alone test, plasma p-tau217 achieved a positive predictive value (PPV) of 79% (95% CI, 74-84) and an overall accuracy of 81% (95% CI, 80-82). In a 2-step workflow, the PPV and accuracy significantly increased to 91% (95% CI, 86-95). While this approach required screening of 677 individuals with plasma p-tau217 to identify 100 Aβ-positive individuals, compared to 536 participants when using PET alone, it reduced the need for PET testing to 124. Immunoassays demonstrated comparable PPVs to mass spectrometry (80% [95% CI, 74-86] vs 85% [95% CI, 81-90]; P = .12) but significantly lower overall accuracy (82% [95% CI, 79-84]% vs 88 [95% CI, 86-90]; P < .001) and true Aβ-positive detection rate (49% [95% CI, 43-55] vs 69% [95% CI, 64-75]; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance The findings highlight the potential of plasma p-tau217 as a stand-alone test—or when used in a sequential 2-step approach alongside PET or CSF testing—as a cost-effective, scalable, and minimally burdensome strategy for identifying preclinical AD. Tailored screening workflows that incorporate p-tau217 can improve efficiency in participant selection for preclinical AD trials and, in the future, help guide access to disease-modifying treatments.

Importance Tau positron emission tomography (PET) allows in vivo detection of neurofibrillary tangles, a core neuropathologic feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective To provide estimates of the frequency of tau PET positivity and its associated risk of clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal study using data pooled from 21 cohorts, comprising a convenience sample of 6514 participants from 13 countries, collected between January 2013 and June 2024. Cognitively unimpaired individuals and patients with a clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), AD dementia, or other neurodegenerative disorders were included. Exposures Tau PET with flortaucipir F 18, amyloid-β (Aβ) PET, and clinical examinations. Tau PET scans were visually rated as positive according to a US Food and Drug Administration– and European Medicines Agency–approved method, designed to indicate the presence of advanced neurofibrillary tangle pathology (Braak stages V-VI). Main Outcomes and Measures Frequency of tau PET positivity and absolute risk of clinical progression (eg, progression to MCI or dementia). Results Among the 6514 participants (mean age, 69.5 years; 50.5% female), median follow-up time ranged from 1.5 to 4.0 years. Of 3487 cognitively unimpaired participants, 349 (9.8%) were tau PET positive; the estimated frequency of tau PET positivity was less than 1% in those aged younger than 50 years, and increased from 3% (95% CI, 2%-4%) at 60 years to 19% (95% CI, 16%-24%) at 90 years. Tau PET positivity frequency estimates increased across MCI and AD dementia clinical diagnoses (43% [95% CI, 41%-46%] and 79% [95% CI, 77%-82%] at 75 years, respectively). Most tau PET–positive individuals (92%) were also Aβ PET positive. Cognitively unimpaired participants who were positive for both Aβ PET and tau PET had a higher absolute risk of progression to MCI or dementia over the following 5 years (57% [95% CI, 45%-71%]) compared with both Aβ PET–positive/tau PET–negative (17% [95% CI, 13%-22%]) and Aβ PET–negative/tau PET–negative (6% [95% CI, 5%-8%]) individuals. Among participants with MCI at the time of the tau PET scan, an Aβ PET–positive/tau PET–positive profile was associated with a 5-year absolute risk of progression to dementia of 70% (95% CI, 59%-81%). Conclusions and Relevance In a large convenience sample, a positive tau PET scan occurred at a nonnegligible rate among cognitively unimpaired individuals, and the combination of Aβ PET positivity and tau PET positivity was associated with a high risk of clinical progression in both preclinical and symptomatic stages of AD. These findings underscore the potential of tau PET as a biomarker for staging AD pathology.

AbstractBackgroundScalable, efficient methods are needed to enroll diverse populations of older adults into AD observational studies and clinical trials. We evaluated preliminary feasibility of a novel, digital, culturally informed approach to recruit and screen participants for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI4).MethodsDigital advertising tailored towards Black/African American and Latinx older adults residing near six clinical ADNI sites directed potential participants to a recruitment website (Figure 1). They completed digital surveys of demographics, ADNI exclusion criteria, memory concerns and changes, self‐report cognitive impairment, and the Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog)‐12 item. Participants also completed Novoic Storyteller, a self‐administered speech‐based cognitive test. Digital assessment results were used to prioritize those from minoritized ethnocultural groups, with low educational attainment, and possible Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) for remote blood draw at local Quest phlebotomy centers to obtain AD plasma biomarkers. Completion rates and digital assessment performance were compared between minoritized and non‐minoritized groups.ResultsOf 989 participants recruited from digital advertising efforts who provided contact information, 230 (23%) signed consent, and 183 (19%) completed at least one remote assessment (Table 1). 45% were from minoritized ethnocultural groups, 4% had ≤12 years of education, and 53% had evidence of possible MCI from digital assessments. 34 (19%) were referred to the plasma biomarker study, of which 21% completed blood draw. Compared to non‐minoritized participants, minoritized participants were less likely to report a diagnosed cognitive impairment or a family history of AD, less likely to have ECog scores indicative of MCI, and less likely to have a study partner. Minoritized participants had lower ECog and Novoic Storyteller completion rates.ConclusionRecruitment and assessment of a diverse cohort of older adults, including those with possible cognitive impairment, is feasible using culturally informed digital advertising. Improving study engagement and achieving educational diversity are key challenges. This approach is now being scaled up to facilitate recruitment into in‐clinic ADNI4, with the goal of enrolling 500 new participants: >50% from minoritized groups, 40% with MCI, and 80% amyloid positive across diagnostic groups. This approach can be adapted to facilitate recruitment and longitudinal assessment in other AD studies and trials.

AbstractINTRODUCTIONWe evaluated preliminary feasibility of a digital, culturally‐informed approach to recruit and screen participants for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI4).METHODSParticipants were recruited using digital advertising and completed digital surveys (e.g., demographics, medical exclusion criteria, 12‐item Everyday Cognition Scale [ECog‐12]), Novoic Storyteller speech‐based cognitive test). Completion rates and assessment performance were compared between underrepresented populations (URPs: individuals from ethnoculturally minoritized or low education backgrounds) and non‐URPs.RESULTSOf 3099 participants who provided contact information, 654 enrolled in the cohort, and 595 completed at least one assessment. Two hundred forty‐seven participants were from URPs. Of those enrolled, 465 met ADNI4 inclusion criteria and 237 evidenced possible cognitive impairment from ECog‐12 or Storyteller performance. URPs had lower ECog and Storyteller completion rates. Scores varied by ethnocultural group and educational level.DISCUSSIONPreliminary results demonstrate digital recruitment and screening assessment of an older diverse cohort, including those with possible cognitive impairment, are feasible. Improving engagement and achieving educational diversity are key challenges.Highlights A total of 654 participants enrolled in a digital cohort to facilitate ADNI4 recruitment. Culturally‐informed digital ads aided enrollment of underrepresented populations. From those enrolled, 42% were from underrepresented ethnocultural and educational groups. Digital screening tools indicate > 50% of participants likely cognitively impaired. Completion rates and assessment performance vary by ethnocultural group and education.

ImportanceIncreased white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume is a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding in both autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) and late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD), but it remains unclear whether increased WMH along the AD continuum is reflective of AD-intrinsic processes or secondary to elevated systemic vascular risk factors.ObjectiveTo estimate the associations of neurodegeneration and parenchymal and vessel amyloidosis with WMH accumulation and investigate whether systemic vascular risk is associated with WMH beyond these AD-intrinsic processes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used data from 3 longitudinal cohort studies conducted in tertiary and community-based medical centers—the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN; February 2010 to March 2020), the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI; July 2007 to September 2021), and the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS; September 2010 to December 2019).Main Outcome and MeasuresThe main outcomes were the independent associations of neurodegeneration (decreases in gray matter volume), parenchymal amyloidosis (assessed by amyloid positron emission tomography), and vessel amyloidosis (evidenced by cerebral microbleeds [CMBs]) with cross-sectional and longitudinal WMH.ResultsData from 3960 MRI sessions among 1141 participants were included: 252 pathogenic variant carriers from DIAN (mean [SD] age, 38.4 [11.2] years; 137 [54%] female), 571 older adults from ADNI (mean [SD] age, 72.8 [7.3] years; 274 [48%] female), and 318 older adults from HABS (mean [SD] age, 72.4 [7.6] years; 194 [61%] female). Longitudinal increases in WMH volume were greater in individuals with CMBs compared with those without (DIAN: t = 3.2 [P = .001]; ADNI: t = 2.7 [P = .008]), associated with longitudinal decreases in gray matter volume (DIAN: t = −3.1 [P = .002]; ADNI: t = −5.6 [P < .001]; HABS: t = −2.2 [P = .03]), greater in older individuals (DIAN: t = 6.8 [P < .001]; ADNI: t = 9.1 [P < .001]; HABS: t = 5.4 [P < .001]), and not associated with systemic vascular risk (DIAN: t = 0.7 [P = .40]; ADNI: t = 0.6 [P = .50]; HABS: t = 1.8 [P = .06]) in individuals with ADAD and LOAD after accounting for age, gray matter volume, CMB presence, and amyloid burden. In older adults without CMBs at baseline, greater WMH volume was associated with CMB development during longitudinal follow-up (Cox proportional hazards regression model hazard ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.72-4.03; P < .001).Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings suggest that increased WMH volume in AD is associated with neurodegeneration and parenchymal and vessel amyloidosis but not with elevated systemic vascular risk. Additionally, increased WMH volume may represent an early sign of vessel amyloidosis preceding the emergence of CMBs.

Importance The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is a well-validated instrument widely used to detect and stage dementia due to Alzheimer disease. The digital Electronic Clinical Dementia Rating (eCDR) can be remotely self-administered and automatically scored, with potential to facilitate efficient dementia screening and staging. Objective To evaluate the association of the eCDR with the CDR and other in-clinic assessments for screening older adults for cognitive impairment. Design, Setting, and Participants This multisite, cross-sectional study used baseline data from a longitudinal, observational study from 2020 to 2023, including up to 3 years of follow-up. Participants were enrolled from 3 Alzheimer Disease Research Centers and the Brain Health Registry. Participants (aged ≥55 years, with a study partner, and no acute or unstable major medical conditions) were recruited during in-clinic visits or by automated emails. Exposures Participants completed the Uniform Data Set Version 3 (UDS; including the CDR) in supervised clinical research settings, and then completed the eCDR remotely, online and unsupervised, using their own device. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were eCDR scores (item; categorical box and global; continuous box and global), CDR scores (item; categorical box and global), and UDS assessment scores. Associations were evaluated using linear and logistic regressions. Results A total of 3565 participants were contacted, and 288 were enrolled. Among 173 participants with item-level data (mean [SD] age, 70.84 [7.65] years; 76 women [43.9%]), eCDR to CDR concordance was 90% or higher for 33 items (63%) and 70% to 89% for 13 items (25%). Box (domain) level concordance ranged from 80% (memory) to 99% (personal care). The global score concordance rate was 81%. κ statistics were fair to moderate. Among 206 participants with box and global scores (mean [SD] age, 71.34 [7.68] years; 95 women [46.1%]), eCDR continuous global score was associated with CDR global (categorical) score with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70-0.87). Correlations between eCDR and in-clinic UDS assessments were similar to those between CDR sum of box scores and the same in-clinic assessments. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that the eCDR is valid and has potential use for screening and assessment of older adults for cognitive and functional decline related to Alzheimer disease. Instrument optimization and validation in diverse cohorts in remote settings are crucial for evaluating scalability and eCDR utility in clinical research, trials, and health care settings.

AbstractBackgroundDyadic (self and study partner) subjective reports of an individual’s recent cognitive and functional decline are an efficient approach to facilitate identification of older adults with, and at risk for, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Such methods can be easily adapted for remote administration, but few studies have investigated the ability of remotely‐collected, unsupervised dyadic subjective reports to accurately detect MCI and cognitive decline.MethodsIn 289 older adults enrolled in the Brain health Registry (BHR), with clinically‐confirmed diagnoses of Cognitively‐unimpaired (CU) or MCI, we identified the optimal combination of remote measures to accurately distinguish CU from MCI. We then externally validated our predictive model in 217 participants enrolled in a separate cohort, Validation of Online Methods to Predict Cognitive Decline (eVAL). Predictors included Cogstate Brief Battery One Card Learning (OCL) accuracy; self‐ and study partner‐reported memory concern (SMCs); performance on online adaptations of Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog, self‐ and study partner‐report versions), Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS); family history of AD, age, gender, and education. We calculated 10‐fold cross validated area under the ROC curves (cvAUC), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and the percentage of participants correctly classified (accuracy) for all models. Likelihood ratio (LR) tests were used to compare model fits.ResultsIn the BHR cohort, models including dyad‐report ECog, family history of AD, GDS, and Cogstate OCL scores distinguished CU from MCI with the highest accuracy (cvAUC = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.83, 0.92; accuracy = 85.5%). Models excluding study partner‐report ECog distinguished diagnostic groups with moderate accuracy (cvAUC = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.78, 0.85; accuracy = 75.9%) When applied to the validation cohort, the optimal training model including dyadic report performed with moderate accuracy ( Table 2 ). In the validation cohort, inclusion of study partner (but not self) report SMC, in addition to dyadic‐report ECog, improved model fit (LR test p<0.01).ConclusionsRemotely‐collected dyadic subjective measures, along with other remote measures, accurately distinguish CU from MCI. Subjective cognitive and functional decline and concerns about memory problems independently contribute to diagnostic discrimination. Results support future utilization of remote dyadic subjective measures to efficiently identify older adults with MCI for prodromal AD clinical trials, and in clinical care settings.