mental and behavioral health

Sex-specific Blood Biomarkers Linked to Memory Changes in Middle-aged Adults

New findings from the Framingham Heart Study provide valuable insights into the etiology of dementia, and may aid in the development of prevention and treatment strategies.

While age is the most significant risk factor for dementia, it is widely believed that women face a higher risk for this condition, which refers to the set of symptoms marked by a decline in cognitive abilities, including memory, language, reasoning and everyday tasks. Although both men and women experience cognitive changes with age, crucial differences exist in the biological mechanisms that underlie cognitive decline between the sexes.

Now, researchers at the School of Public Health and BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have identified certain blood markers—specifically lower plasma levels of adiponectin (a hormone released by fat tissue) and higher fasting blood glucose levels—that are linked to faster memory decline during middle age. 

Two markers, higher HbA1c and plasma insulin levels, were significantly associated with a faster memory decline over time in women but not in men, according to the new findings published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, a journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The study is the first sex-specific analyses of blood biomarkers related to midlife memory change in a prospective cohort study.

“Our findings highlight the importance of targeting cardio-metabolic risks and the need to validate midlife specific biomarkers that can accelerate the development of primary preventive strategies,” says study co-corresponding author Chunyu Liu, professor of biostatistics.

For the study, Liu and colleagues utilized data from the Framingham Heart Study, the long-running joint project by BU and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The study started in 1948 and now includes participants from multiple generations. The researchers conducted analysis on several blood markers and their relationships with memory and other cognition changes in 793 middle-aged participants. Then they used several statistical methods to study the relationships.

“Besides life expectancy, the gender disparity in dementia may also be influenced by multiple factors, such as socioeconomic risk factors, inflammation, reproductive markers and the amyloid β protein42 (Aβ42),” says co-corresponding author Huitong Ding, postdoctoral associate at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “Therefore, it is critical to explore blood biomarkers that may have differing associations with cognitive changes between men and women to better understand the underlying mechanisms of dementia and develop effective interventions.”

Dementia can result from various causes, such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular problems, traumatic brain injuries, and other health issues. The researchers hope this study will lead to the development of targeted cognitive preventive strategies by addressing cardio-metabolic risks related to memory changes in middle age. They believe these strategies could prevent cognitive decline and therefore enhance lifelong health and well-being for all individuals.