Sex and ethnicity in early-onset Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and global function.

INTRODUCTION

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) may have distinct biomarker and clinical features from late-onset AD (LOAD). EOAD is understudied in ethnically heterogeneous populations.

METHODS

We studied EOAD (N = 44, age 64.7 ± 5.5, 55% female, 52% Hispanic/Latino), LOAD (N = 113), early-onset non-AD (EOnonAD, N = 114), and clinically normal (CN, N = 93) individuals from the 1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Group differences and demographic interactions were evaluated in plasma (phosphorylated tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light chain), neuroimaging (amyloid positron emission tomography, brain magnetic resonance imaging), and global function (Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes).

RESULTS

AD-related biomarkers and global function were consistently worse in EOAD than EOnonAD and CN, and similar or worse than LOAD. Among EOAD, younger age related to greater amyloid burden among non-Hispanic/Latino individuals only. AD-related biomarker changes were more severe in females than males among non-Hispanic/Latino EOAD, but more severe among males in Hispanic/Latino EOAD.

DISCUSSION: The biological and clinical features of EOAD may differ by sex and ethnicity.

HIGHLIGHTS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers and global functional measures were measured in Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals with early-onset AD (EOAD).Overall, AD-related biomarkers and global function were consistently worse in EOAD than non-AD cognitive decline and controls, and similar or worse than late-onset AD.Younger age related to greater amyloid burden among non-Hispanic EOAD, but not Hispanic EOAD.Hispanic EOAD males had more severe changes than females, contrasting findings in non-Hispanic EOAD (females more severe than males).