journal articles
LIVER FUNCTION AND ALZHEIMER\'S BRAIN PATHOLOGIES: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY: LIVER AND ALZHEIMER\'S PATHOLOGIES
Jee Wook Kim, Min Soo Byun, Dahyun Yi, Joon Hyung Jung, Nayeong Kong, Yoon Young Chang, Gijung Jung, Hyejin Ahn, Jun-Young Lee, Koung Mi Kang, Chul-Ho Sohn, Yun-Sang Lee, Yu Kyeong Kim, Dong Young Lee, for the KBASE Research Group
J Prev Alz Dis 2025;1(12)
IMPORTANCE:
The neuropathological links underlying the association between changes in liver function and AD have not yet been clearly elucidated.
OBJECTIVE:
We aimed to examine the relationship between liver function markers and longitudinal changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) core pathologies.
DESIGN:
Data from the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease, a longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2014, were utilized.
SETTING:
Community and memory clinic setting.
PARTICIPANTS:
Three hundred forty-seven older adults.
MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES:
Participants underwent baseline and 2-year follow-up evaluations, including liver function assessments and various brain imaging techniques, such as amyloid and tau PET, FDG-PET, and MRI). Liver function indicators [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin] were examined as exposure variables.
RESULTS:
Higher baseline ALT levels were associated with a greater increase in beta-amyloid deposition over 2 years [β = 0.166, Bonferroni-corrected P (PB) = 0.012], while lower total bilirubin levels were associated with a greater increase in tau deposition over the same period (β = -0.570, PB < 0.001). In contrast, AST alone showed no significant association with changes of AD pathologies.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:
The findings suggest a possible link between lower liver function and the accumulation of core AD pathologies in the brain. These results also support the possibility that the liver-brain axis could be a potential target for therapeutic or preventive strategies against AD.
CITATION:
Jee Wook Kim ; Min Soo Byun ; Dahyun Yi ; Joon Hyung Jung ; Nayeong Kong ; Yoon Young Chang ; Gijung Jung ; Hyejin Ahn ; Jun-Young Lee ; Koung Mi Kang ; Chul-Ho Sohn ; Yun-Sang Lee ; Yu Kyeong Kim ; Dong Young Lee ; for the KBASE Research Group 1 (2025): Liver function and Alzheimer's brain pathologies: A longitudinal study: Liver and Alzheimer's pathologies. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (JPAD). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100012