Combining LASSI-L with p-tau217 in Black/African American older adults
Combining LASSI-L with p-tau217 in Black/African American older adults
Detecting Cognitive Impairment in African American Older Adults Using the LASSI-L and Plasma P-Tau217
Crenshaw et al., Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease (2025)
Combining LASSI-L with p-tau217 in Black/African American older adults
Detecting Cognitive Impairment in African American Older Adults Using the LASSI-L and Plasma P-Tau217
SUMMARY
This study addressed the underrepresentation of Black/African American older adults in Alzheimer’s disease research by evaluating 56 participants who received independent clinical and cognitive assessments. Thirty-five were cognitively unimpaired and p-tau217 negative, while 21 had amnestic mild cognitive impairment and were p-tau217 positive. The LASSI-L was not used to assign participants to groups, allowing its recall, interference, and intrusion-error measures to be evaluated without circularity.
The aMCI/p-tau217-positive group performed worse on free recall of the competing list and recovery from proactive semantic interference, and produced a higher percentage of intrusion errors. A model using LASSI-L Free B1 Recall and Cued B2 percentage of intrusion errors distinguished the groups with 80% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. The results support the LASSI-L as a sensitive cognitive complement to p-tau217 and show how pairing cognitive expression with a biological marker may improve early detection while helping address disparities in Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care.
