GDF15 protein as a complementary pathology biomarker of Alzheimer's Disease

Our findings demonstrate that CSF GDF15 levels are elevated in MCI and Dementia compared to CU individuals and correlate strongly with key AD biomarkers, particularly pTau181, STREM2, GFAP, and NFL. The observed sex differences, with consistently higher GDF15 levels in males, suggest a potential sex-specific trajectory in AD pathology. The lack of association with hippocampal volume and MoCA indicates that GDF15 may reflect early molecular changes rather than cognitive decline. These results support the potential of GDF15 as a complementary molecular biomarker in AD research.