Plasma and CSF biomarkers of aging and cognitive decline in Caribbean vervets

INTRODUCTION: Vervets are non-human primates that share high genetic homology with humans and develop amyloid beta (A beta) pathology with aging. We expand current knowledge by examining A beta pathology, aging, cognition, and biomarker proteomics. METHODS: Amyloid immunoreactivity in the frontal cortex and temporal cortex/hippocampal regions from archived vervet brain samples ranging from young adulthood to old age was quantified. We also obtained cognitive scores, plasma samples, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples in additional animals. Plasma and CSF proteins were quantified with platforms utilizing human antibodies. RESULTS: We found age-related increases in A beta deposition in both brain regions. Bioinformatic analyses assessed associations between biomarkers and age, sex, cognition, and CSF A beta levels, revealing changes in proteins related to immune-related inflammation, metabolism, and cellular processes. DISCUSSION: Vervets are an effective model of aging and early-stage Alzheimer's disease, and we provide translational biomarker data that both align with previous results in humans and provide a basis for future investigations.