What This Means
This research suggests that specific proteins circulating in the blood may serve as early warning signals for brain blood vessel disease (cerebrovascular disease), cognitive decline, and serious health events like strokes, heart attacks, and death. The researchers analyzed over 1,400 proteins in blood samples from more than 2,500 people across two independent study groups in Southeast Asia, following participants over four years to track changes in brain lesions, thinking ability, and clinical outcomes. They found that different proteins were linked to different types of brain lesions, and that these protein patterns represent a variety of biological processes involved in cerebrovascular disease.
Four proteins in particular stood out: NEFL (a marker of nerve cell damage), LTBP2 (involved in tissue structure and signaling), CRIM1 (related to nerve and blood vessel development), and PLAUR (involved in cell movement and inflammation). These four proteins were not only linked to brain lesions and cognitive decline, but also predicted who was more likely to experience major cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events and death. Importantly, these findings held up in a completely separate group of over 2,000 people with cardiovascular disease, strengthening confidence in the results.
This research suggests that measuring these four proteins in the blood could potentially help identify people at higher risk of brain disease progression and serious health complications before they occur. The proteins may also point to new biological targets for future treatments aimed at preventing or slowing cerebrovascular disease and its consequences.