Relationship of plasma biomarkers to digital cognitive tests in alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionA major limitation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research is the lack of the ability to measure cognitive performance at scale - robustly, remotely, and frequently. Currently, there are no established online digital platforms validated against plasma biomarkers of AD.MethodsWe used a novel web-based platform that assessed different cognitive functions in AD patients (N=46) and elderly controls (N=53) who were also evaluated for plasma biomarkers (amyloid β42/40 ratio, pTau181, GFAP, NfL). Their cognitive performance was compared to a second, larger group of elderly controls (N=352).ResultsPatients with AD were significantly impaired across all digital cognitive tests, with performance correlating with plasma biomarker levels, particularly pTau181. The combination of pTau181 and the single best-performing digital test achieved high accuracy in group classification.DiscussionThese findings show how online testing can now be deployed in patients with AD to measure cognitive function effectively and related to blood biomarkers of the disease.