Author:
Cui Yiyuan,Li Chunyu,Ke Bin,Xiao Yi,Wang Shichan,Jiang Qirui,Zheng Xiaoting,Lin Junyu,Huang Jingxuan,Shang Huifang
Abstract
BackgroundA number of studies have explored the link between neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) and albumin, the main protein in human plasma. However, the results have been inconsistent, highlighting the necessity for a detailed systemic analysis.MethodsUtilizing data from the United Kingdom Biobank, we investigated the relationship between baseline levels of serum and urine albumin and the occurrence of common NDDs, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia, employing Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.ResultsOur results reveal that elevated baseline serum albumin levels are linked to a decreased risk of developing dementia (beta = −0.024, SE = 0.004, p < 0.001). Subgroup and interaction analyses highlighted the impact of factors like body mass index (BMI), age, and alcohol consumption on this relationship. Specifically, participants with higher BMI, younger age, or lower alcohol intake exhibited a stronger protective effect. On the other hand, a higher baseline level of urine microalbumin was connected to a slight increase in dementia risk (beta = 0.003, SE = 3.30E-04, p < 0.001). No significant associations were found between albumin levels and the risk of PD or ALS.ConclusionOur study underscores the potential role of serum albumin as a biomarker associated with reduced dementia risk. These findings contribute valuable insights into the understanding of albumin’s impact on NDDs, suggesting its utility as a biomarker for dementia in clinical settings and informing future therapeutic strategies in clinical trials.