FORT WORTH, TX — Mexican American patients often aren’t participants in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical research, according to a new study that suggests more efficient screening tools could change that.
The study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia examined data from the ongoing community-based, multiethnic Health & Aging Brain among Latino Elders (HABLE) study. In that trial, participants underwent functional exams, clinical labs, neuropsychological testing, and 3T magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Researchers also examined fasting proteomic markers for predicting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD, using support vector machine models.1
With data examined from 1,649 participants—866 of them Mexican American and 783 non-Hispanic white, University of North Texas Health Science Center-led researchers found that proteomic profiles were highly accurate in detecting MCI (area under the curve [AUC]=0.91) and dementia (AUC=0.95). The study team, which also included researchers from the San Francisco VAMC, also determined that proteomic profiles varied significantly among ethnic groups and disease state, although negative predictive value worked well for ruling out MCI and dementia across ethnic groups.
“A blood-based screening tool can serve as a method for increasing access to state-of-the-art AD clinical research by bridging between community-based and clinic-based settings,” the authors concluded.
- O’Bryant SE, Zhang F, Petersen M, Hall JR, et. Al. HABLE Study Team. A blood screening tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease among community-dwelling Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites: A method for increasing representation of diverse populations in clinical research. Alzheimer’s Dement. 2021 May 31. doi: 10.1002/alz.12382. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34057802.
