Levels of ADAM10 and BDNF in low‐educated healthy older adults and individuals with Alzheimer’s dementia

Background Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia among older adults (Prince et al., 2015). Research has focused on specific biomarkers for AD that could contribute to early diagnosis. Levels of ADAM10, for example, are altered in people with AD, and this protein has been studied as a potential blood‐based biomarker for this disease (Elsworthy et al., 2022). Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in turn, is a protective factor involved, for example, in neurotransmitter modulation, as well as in neuronal plasticity and survival (Tarassova et al., 2020). Therefore, analyzing the possible relationship between these variables is relevant to expand the knowledge of AD biomarkers. Aim to verify whether there is a relationship between the levels of ADAM10 and BDNF among healthy older adults and individuals with AD with low educational attainment. Methods This is a cross‐sectional study in which community‐dwelling older adults with low educational levels (n = 85) were assigned to two groups: healthy older adults (n = 37) and participants with AD (n = 48). The interview was based on a sociodemographic questionnaire and cognitive assessment (Mini‐Mental State Examination‐MMSE and the Clock Drawing Test‐CDT). Participants had their blood collected, and SDS‐PAGE and Western Blotting techniques were used to measure plasma ADAM10 levels. Results Participants with AD were older (p