Associations of plasma p‐Tau217 with cognitive domain performance in clinically unimpaired participants: Evidence from HABS‐HD

INTRODUCTION The relationship between plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (p‐Tau217) and domain‐specific cognitive performance across race and ethnic groups remains unclear. METHODS We analyzed data from 2052 clinically unimpaired participants from the Health & Aging Brain Study–Health Disparities cohort. Using adjusted multivariable linear regressions, we evaluated the associations between p‐Tau217 and cognitive scores (immediate and delayed memory, attention/processing speed, executive function, and language). Analyses were conducted in the overall sample, stratified by race and ethnicity, and in an age‐ and sex‐matched subsample ( n = 1032). RESULTS Plasma p‐Tau217 levels were lower in Non‐Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic participants ( p < 0.001) despite lower cognitive scores ( p < 0.001). Higher p‐Tau217 was associated with worse cognition overall ( β −0.05 to −0.11). Associations were strongest in Non‐Hispanic White (NHW), limited in NHB, and domain‐specific in Hispanic groups. Matched analyses attenuated effects. DISCUSSION Plasma p‐Tau217 is associated with domain‐specific cognitive performance in clinically unimpaired individuals, but these associations vary across racial and ethnic groups.