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Association of cortical β-amyloid with erythrocyte membrane monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids in older adults at risk of dementia

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

We examined the relationships between erythrocyte membrane monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and cortical β-amyloid (Aβ) load in older adults reporting subjective memory complaints.

Design

This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT); a randomised controlled trial.

Setting

French community dwellers aged 70 or over reporting subjective memory complaints, but free from a diagnosis of clinical dementia.

Participants

Participants of this study were 61 individuals from the placebo arm of the MAPT trial with data on erythrocyte membrane fatty acid levels and cortical Aβ load.

Measurements

Cortical-to-cerebellar standard uptake value ratios were assessed using [18F] florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET). Fatty acids were measured in erythrocyte cell membranes using gas chromatography. Associations between erythrocyte membrane MUFAs and SFAs and cortical Aβ load were explored using adjusted multiple linear regression models and were considered significant at p ≤ 0.005 (10 comparisons) after correction for multiple testing.

Results

We found no significant associations between fatty acids and cortical Aβ load using multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, education, cognition, PET-scan to clinical assessment interval, PET-scan to blood collection interval and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) status. The association closest to significance was that between erythrocyte membrane stearic acid and Aβ (B-coefficient 0.03, 95 % CI: 0.00,0.05, p = 0.05). This association, although statistically non-significant, appeared to be stronger amongst ApoE ε4 carriers (B-coefficient 0.04, 95 % CI: -0.01,0.09, p = 0.08) compared to ApoE ε4 non-carriers (B-coefficient 0.02, 95 % CI: -0.01,0.05, p = 0.18) in age and sex stratified analysis.

Conclusion

Future research in the form of large longitudinal observational study is needed to validate our findings, particularly regarding the potential association of stearic acid with cortical Aβ.

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Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table S1

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

APP:

amyloid precursor protein

ApoE:

apolipoprotein E

Aβ:

β- amyloid

CDR:

clinical dementia rating

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

IQR:

interquartile range

PET:

positron emission tomography

PUFAs:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

MAPT:

Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial

MCI:

mild cognitive impairment

MMSE:

Mini Mental State Examination

SFAs:

saturated fatty acids

MUFAs:

monounsaturated fatty acids

SUVRs:

standard uptake value ratios

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gérontopôle, Department of Geriatrics, CHU Toulouse, Purpan University Hospital, Toulouse, France

    Claudie Hooper, P. de Souto Barreto, S. Guyonnet, S. Sourdet, J. Delrieu & B. Vellas

  2. UMR1027, Université de Toulouse, UPS, INSERM, Toulouse, France

    P. de Souto Barreto, S. Guyonnet, S. Andrieu & B. Vellas

  3. UMR 1214, Toulouse Neuroimaging Center, University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France

    P. Payoux & A. S. Salabert

  4. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Toulouse (CHU-Toulouse), Toulouse, France

    P. Payoux & A. S. Salabert

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    S. Andrieu

Authors
  1. Claudie Hooper
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  2. P. de Souto Barreto
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  3. P. Payoux
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  9. B. Vellas
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Consortia

MAPT/DSA Study Group

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Correspondence to Claudie Hooper.

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Hooper, C., de Souto Barreto, P., Payoux, P. et al. Association of cortical β-amyloid with erythrocyte membrane monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids in older adults at risk of dementia. J Nutr Health Aging 21, 1170–1175 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0975-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0975-3

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