Anel Frederick

African Ancestry Individuals with Higher Educational Attainment Are Resilient to Alzheimer’s Disease Measured by pTau181

In this study, we examined why some African ancestry individuals show better daily functioning even when they have biological signs of Alzheimer’s disease. We focused on a blood biomarker called pTau181, which reflects Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the brain. Our results showed that African American individuals with higher levels of education were better able to carry out everyday activities, even when their pTau181 levels were high. This suggests that education may help protect against the functional effects of Alzheimer’s disease, a concept often called cognitive or brain reserve. We also found that this protective effect of education was stronger in people who did not carry the APOE ε4 genetic risk factor. In the discussion, we suggest that education may help the brain cope with disease-related changes, delaying or reducing functional problems. These findings highlight that social factors, like access to education, play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease outcomes. Studying African ancestry populations is especially important because most Alzheimer’s research has focused on European ancestry groups, which can miss important differences. We conclude that including diverse ancestries and life experiences in research is essential for understanding resilience to Alzheimer’s disease and for developing more equitable prevention and care strategies.

Rajabli F, Seixas AA, Akgun B, Adams LD, Inciute J, Hamilton KL, Whithead PG, Konidari I, Gu T, Arvizu J, Golightly CG, Starks TD, Laux R, Byrd GS, Haines JL, Beecham GW, Griswold AJ, Vance JM, Cuccaro ML, Pericak-Vance MA. African Ancestry Individuals with Higher Educational Attainment Are Resilient to Alzheimer’s Disease Measured by pTau181. J Alzheimers Dis. 2024;98(1):221-229. doi: 10.3233/JAD-231116. PMID: 38393909; PMCID: PMC11091636.