Subjective memory concerns and AD/ADRD plasma biomarker associations in HABS‐HD

INTRODUCTION: We examined relationships among subjective memory concerns (SMC), plasma biomarkers, and objective memory within racially/ethnically diverse older adults. METHODS: Participants included 1618 cognitively unimpaired older adults (681 Hispanic/Latino [H/L], 164 non-Hispanic Black [NHB], 773 non-Hispanic White [NHW]) from the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities. Associations among SMC, plasma biomarkers (phosphorylated tau 181 [p-tau181], amyloid beta 42/40 [Aβ42/40], neurofilament light chain [NfL], total tau [t-tau]), and objective memory were examined. RESULTS: Higher SMC was associated with higher plasma p-tau181 and NfL levels in NHW participants only. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with higher plasma p-tau181 in NHB participants only. Higher SMC related to lower objective memory for H/L and NHW participants. Plasma biomarkers had unique patterns of association with memory tests by racial/ethnic group. DISCUSSION: Different patterns of subjective memory, objective memory, and plasma biomarker associations within racial/ethnic groups suggests variability in the utility of SMC for early detection of Alzheimer's disease-related changes.