Lancet neurology
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Comparative Study
Plasma Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) and the risk of dementia: a prospective case-cohort study.
Amyloid beta peptides (Abeta) are important components of plaques in Alzheimer's disease. Plasma concentrations of Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) rise with age and are increased in people with mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease. However, Abeta(1-42) concentrations may decrease early in the dementia process. We postulated that concentrations of Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) in plasma are associated with risk of dementia. ⋯ High plasma concentrations of Abeta(1-40), especially when combined with low concentrations of Abeta(1-42), indicate an increased risk of dementia. A potential role of plasma Abeta concentrations as a marker of incipient dementia warrants further investigation.