Abstract 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.
Thomas et al. (Wed,) studied this question.