Association Between Plasma Phosphorylated Tau-217 and Cognition in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) co-pathology contributes to dementia in PD, but its role in earlier cognitive impairment remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if p-tau217, a biomarker of early AD, is associated with cognitive impairment in PD.

METHODS

Plasma p-tau217 levels in 167 PD patients without dementia and 63 controls were related to performance on standard neuropsychological testing, and to cognitive impairment as defined by a MoCA score <26 and by self-report. Plasma GFAP, NfL and APOE ε4 carrier status were also examined.

RESULTS

No significant differences in p-tau217, GFAP and NfL level were observed between groups (pFDR > 0.08). Higher p-tau217 was associated with worse visuospatial function and greater self-reported cognitive impairment, but these associations did not survive correction (pFDR > 0.08). There was no association with cognitive impairment (pFDR > 0.08).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that co-morbid AD pathology is not a major contributor to early cognitive changes in this sample of PD patients without dementia. © 2026 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.