Effect of Neurotoxin Exposure on Blood Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer Disease.

PubMed ID: 37698523

Author(s): Schubert CR, Paulsen AJ, Pinto AA, Chappell RJ, Chen Y, Ferrucci L, Hancock LM, Cruickshanks KJ, Merten N. Effect of Neurotoxin Exposure on Blood Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2023 Sep 13. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000579. Online ahead of print. PMID 37698523

Journal: Alzheimer Disease And Associated Disorders, Sep 2023

AIM To determine whether exposure to neurotoxins in midlife is associated with changes in blood-based biomarkers of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer disease pathology.

METHODS Blood cadmium, lead, neurofilament light (NfL) chain, total tau (TTau), and amyloid beta (Aβ) 40 and Aβ42 concentrations were measured in 1516 participants in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study. Linear mixed-effect models were used to determine associations between baseline cadmium and lead levels and baseline NfL, TTau, and Aβ42/Aβ40, and 10-year change in concentrations using repeated measures of these biomarkers as the outcome.

RESULTS In women, higher cadmium and lead levels were associated with higher baseline TTau concentrations. A higher baseline cadmium level was associated with lower baseline Aβ42/Aβ40 in both men and women. In age-sex-adjusted models, a doubling in baseline cadmium level was associated with a 0.2% (95% CI: 0.0, 0.3) higher increase per year in NfL concentrations. In men, a doubling of baseline lead level was associated with a 0.9% (95% CI: 0.1, 1.7) higher increase per year in TTau concentration.

CONCLUSIONS Participants with relatively higher levels of cadmium and lead had blood biomarker concentrations consistent with more neuronal damage and Alzheimer disease pathology. Environmental exposure to neurotoxins may contribute to neurodegeneration.