Racial and ethnic differences in plasma biomarker eligibility for a preclinical Alzheimer's disease trial
Doris Patricia Molina‐Henry, Rema Raman, Andy Liu, Oliver Langford, Keith Johnson, Leona K. Shum, Crystal M. Glover, Shobha Dhadda, Michael Irizarry, Gustavo Jimenez‐Maggiora, Joel B. Braunstein, Kevin Yarasheski, Venky Venkatesh, Tim West, Philip B. Verghese, Robert A. Rissman, Paul Aisen, Joshua D. Grill, Reisa A. Sperling- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Neurology (clinical)
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Health Policy
- Epidemiology
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
In trials of amyloid‐lowering drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD), differential eligibility may contribute to under‐inclusion of racial and ethnic underrepresented groups. We examined plasma amyloid beta 42/40 and positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid eligibility for the ongoing AHEAD Study preclinical AD program (NCT04468659).
METHODS
Univariate logistic regression models were used to examine group differences in plasma and PET amyloid screening eligibility.
RESULTS
Of 4905 participants screened at time of analysis, 1724 were plasma eligible to continue in screening: 13.3% Hispanic Black, 24.7% Hispanic White, 20.8% non‐Hispanic (NH) Asian, 24.7% NH Black, and 38.9% NH White. Plasma eligibility differed across groups in models controlling for covariates (odds ratio from 1.9 to 4.0 compared to the NH White reference group, P < 0.001). Among plasma eligible participants, PET eligibility did not differ by group.
DISCUSSION
These results suggest that prevalence of brain amyloid pathology differed, but that eligibility based on plasma was equally effective across racial and ethnic group members.
Highlights
Plasma amyloid eligibility is lower in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. In plasma eligible adults, positron emission tomography eligibility rates are similar across race and ethnicity. Plasma biomarker tests may be similarly effective across racial and ethnic groups.