Correlation between mild behavioral impairment and peripheral blood biomarkers in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND

Mild behavioral impairment (MBI) refers to the neurobehavioral symptoms observed in older adults that may be potential risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases. While a significant number studies have explored the association between cerebrospinal fluid and MBI, only a few have examined the connection between plasma biomarkers and MBI.

AIM: To examine the prevalence of MBI in healthy older adults (HOAs) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as well as the association between MBI and plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

We enrolled a total of 241 subjects, which included 136 HOAs and 105 MCIs, from the Yuhua District of Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China. The MBI symptom checklist (MBI-C) was utilized for the assessment and diagnosis of MBI, and a score of MBI-C ≥ 6.5 was considered indicative of the condition. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 70 patients, 32 HOAs and 38 MCIs, and levels of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) 40, Aβ42, and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-Tau217) in these samples were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MBI in the HOAs and MCI groups was 4.4% and 15.3%, respectively (χ 2 = 7.262, P = 0.007), with particularly notable decreases in motivation and increases in impulse dyscontrol (the highest detection rate) and social inappropriateness (P < 0.05). The total MBI score correlated with Aβ42 and p-Tau217 (r = -0.385, P = 0.019; r = -0.330, P = 0.041), but not with Aβ40 or the Aβ42/40 ratio. Among the subdomains, impulse dyscontrol was correlated with Aβ42 (r = -0.401, P = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

Both MCI and HOAs have exhibited a higher prevalence of MBI, with changes in impulse control behavior being the most common. MBI not only presents as an independent risk factor for cognitive decline but is also linked with AD-related peripheral biomarkers.