Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's and vascular disease vary by age, gender, and APOE genotype in cognitively normal adults

BACKGROUND: This study sought to evaluate gender and APOE genotype-related differences in the concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebrovascular injury across the life span of cognitively normal adults. METHODS: CSF amyloid beta(1–42) (Aβ(42)), phospho-tau-181 (p-tau(181)), and total tau were measured in 331 participants who were between the ages of 21 and 100. CSF E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM1) were measured in 249 participants who were between the ages of 50 and 100. RESULTS: CSF total tau and p-tau(181) increased with age over the adult life span (p < 0.01) with no gender differences in those increases. CSF Aβ(42) concentration varied according to age, gender, and APOE genotype (interaction of age × gender × ε4, p = 0.047). CSF VCAM1, but not E-selectin, increased with age (p < 0.01), but both were elevated in men compared to women (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Female APOE-ε4 carriers appear at higher risk for AD after age 50. In contrast, men may experience a relatively higher rate of cerebrovascular injury in middle and early old age. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13195-017-0271-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.