Tryptophan Metabolism and Neurodegeneration: Longitudinal Associations of Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites with Cognitive Performance and Plasma Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Biomarkers in the Duke Physical Performance Across the LifeSpan Study

Background: The kynurenine pathway (KP) comprises a family of tryptophan-derived metabolites that some studies have reported are associated with poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the associations of plasma KP metabolites (kynurenine [KYN], kynurenic acid [KA], and tryptophan [TRP]) with a panel of plasma ADRD biomarkers (A beta(42)/ beta(40) ratio, pTau-181, glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], and neurofilament light [NfL]) and cognitive performance in a subset of older adults drawn from the Duke Physical Performance Across the LifeSpan (PALS) study. Methods: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess cognitive performance. We used multivariate multiple regression to evaluate associations of the KYN/TRP and KA/KYN ratios with MoCA score and plasma ADRD biomarkers at baseline and over two years ( n = 301; Age = 74.8 +/- 8.7). Results: Over two years, an increasing KYN/TRP ratio was associated with increasing plasma concentrations of plasma pTau181 (beta = 6.151; 95%CI [0.29, 12.01]; p = 0.040), GFAP (beta = 11.12; 95%CI [1.73, 20.51]; p = 0.020), and NfL (beta = 11.13; 95%CI [2.745, 19.52]; p = 0.009), but not MoCA score or the A beta(42)/ beta(40) ratio. There were no significant associations of KA/KYN with MoCA score or plasma ADRD biomarkers. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that greater concentrations of KP metabolites are associated longitudinally over two years with greater biomarker evidence of neurofibrillary tau pathology (pTau-181), neuroinflammation (GFAP), and neurodegeneration (NfL), suggesting that dysregulated KP metabolism may play a role in ADRD pathogenesis.

Automated summary

This study found that an increasing KYN/TRP ratio is associated with greater concentrations of ADRD biomarkers (pTau181, GFAP, and NfL) in older adults, but not with cognitive performance (MoCA score) or the A beta(42)/ beta(40) ratio. There were no significant associations of KA/KYN with MoCA score or plasma ADRD biomarkers.