Plasma proteomic profiles of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration in African cohorts

Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) represents a growing public health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, most studies focus on Non-Hispanic white (NHW) populations from high-income countries. This study investigates plasma proteomic signatures associated with amyloid pathology in African populations. Nigerian older adults from the VALIANT study and participants from a Tanzanian study, with available biomarker quantification in plasma are employed. For proteomic comparison, participants from the Canadian TRIAD cohort are included, capturing a distinct population. Here, we show that multiple proteins are differentially abundant in the plasma of p-tau217-positive individuals and in the different cognitive groups, with findings largely consistent amongst African cohorts. Comorbidities are significantly associated with protein levels and differences in plasma biomarkers levels are found between sexes. Lastly, VALIANT and TRIAD show both shared and unique protein profiles in relation to amyloid-pathology. These findings support the utility of fluid biomarkers in ADRD in African populations.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-07-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74971-4
Primary Topic
Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Plasma proteomic profiles of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration in African cohorts

Stella‐Maria Paddick, Joseph Therriault, Femi Popoola, Oladotun Olalusi et al.
Nature Communications
Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
article

Plasma proteomic profiles of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration in African cohorts

Stella‐Maria Paddick, Joseph Therriault, Femi Popoola, Oladotun Olalusi, Chinedu Udeh‐Momoh, Dorcas Olujobi, Gabriel Ogunde, Román Romero‐Ortuño, Nesrine Rahmouni, Andréa Lessa Benedet, Raj N. Kalaria, Richard Walker, Olusola Ladokun, Margaret A. Pericak‐Vance, Stéphanie Debette, Henrik Zetterberg, Anthony J. Griswold, Olabode Oguntiloye, Ayotomiwa Fagbemi, Tolulope Akinyemi, Wiebke Traichel, Olaoluwa Famuyiwa, Joshua Akinyemi, Catherine Dotchin, Joseph Yaria, Brian Lawlor, Adesola Ogunniyi, Ilaria Pola, Alyoce Kisoli, Kubra Tan, Eniola Cadmus, Giulia Giacomucci, Arthur C. Macedo, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Mayowa Ogunronbi, Nicholas J. Ashton, Mayowa Owolabi, Rufus O. Akinyemi
article en

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) represents a growing public health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, most studies focus on Non-Hispanic white (NHW) populations from high-income countries. This study investigates plasma proteomic signatures associated with amyloid pathology in African populations. Nigerian older adults from the VALIANT study and participants from a Tanzanian study, with available biomarker quantification in plasma are employed. For proteomic comparison, participants from the Canadian TRIAD cohort are included, capturing a distinct population. Here, we show that multiple proteins are differentially abundant in the plasma of p-tau217-positive individuals and in the different cognitive groups, with findings largely consistent amongst African cohorts. Comorbidities are significantly associated with protein levels and differences in plasma biomarkers levels are found between sexes. Lastly, VALIANT and TRIAD show both shared and unique protein profiles in relation to amyloid-pathology. These findings support the utility of fluid biomarkers in ADRD in African populations.

Nature Communications
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Wisconsin–Madison (US), University of Miami (US), Université de Bordeaux (FR), Inserm (FR), Christian Medical College, Vellore (IN), University of Ibadan (NG), Trinity College Dublin (IE), Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA), University College Hospital, Ibadan (NG), Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE), Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Millennium Science Initiative (CL), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives (FR), Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (FR), Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Bordeaux Population Health (FR), Aga Khan University Nairobi (KE), UK Dementia Research Institute (GB), NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (GB), Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (TZ), Banner Sun Health Research Institute (US), Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality (GB), National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (GB), Institut du Cerveau (FR), Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (CL), Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Florence (IT), University College London (GB), Wake Forest University (US), McGill University (CA), Lead City University (NG), Newcastle University (GB), The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US), University of Gothenburg (SE)
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Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
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