Characterization of Alzheimer’s Disease Molecular Biomarker Profiles Throughout the Pathobiological Continuum

Recent evidence suggests that molecular markers of Alzheimer’s disease may differ by race, but existing studies have been limited by small sample sizes. The Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers at Washington University in St. Louis and Emory University have embarked on a collaboration to share spinal fluid and plasma samples from well-characterized African American and non-Hispanic white research participants between their two centers. Such sharing will allow for combined larger sample sizes and, hence, the ability to ask more detailed scientific questions. Washington University will focus on the ability of spinal fluid and plasma markers to predict the transition from normal memory and thinking to symptomatic disease. Emory University will focus on characterizing the pattern of protein expression in spinal fluid and plasma samples from individuals across a range of disease severity. These complementary approaches will help to provide insight into whether racial factors could impact treatment and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.