Biomarkers · Journal article

Associations among cognitive performance, VCAM-1, and GFAP in black adults: The ARCHES study.

Neurobiology of Aging · July 10, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

In cognitively unimpaired Black adults, VCAM-1 and GFAP showed a significant interaction associated with PACC score, but neither biomarker showed independent effects and the association did not replicate on MoCA. This is an exploratory finding in a cross-sectional design that requires prospective validation and mechanistic investigation before clinical application.

What was studied

Cross-sectional observational study. 313 cognitively unimpaired Black adults aged ≥45 years enrolled in the ARCHES (Aging Research Characterizing Health Exposome via Social Drivers) study.. Intervention: Plasma biomarker quantification (GFAP and VCAM-1) and cognitive assessment.. n = 313.

Key findings

VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction with PACC: β = -1.36 × 10⁻⁶ (95% CI: -2.43 × 10⁻⁶ to -2.94 × 10⁻⁷, p = 0.013; FDR p = 0.030; standardized β = -0.118) Neither VCAM-1 nor GFAP showed independent associations with PACC Interaction remained significant after adjustment for Area Deprivation Index, BMI, and APOE ε4 status

Safety

Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.

Who this may help

This finding is exploratory and should not inform clinical practice. Prospective validation in independent cohorts, mechanistic elucidation of the VCAM-1–GFAP interaction, and assessment of clinical cognitive or dementia outcomes are needed before any clinical utility can be established.

Plain-language summary

Cross-sectional analysis of biomarker interactions in a single racial group with surrogate cognitive outcomes; lacks independent replication and mechanistic validation needed to establish clinical relevance.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsCognitive performance was assessed using PACC (primary outcome) and MoCA (secondary outcome) in participants aged ≥45 years. Plasma GFAP and VCAM-1 were quantified using ultrasensitive immunoassays (NULISA™). Gaussian generalized linear models tested main effects and a VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction, adjusting for age, sex, and years of education; sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for Area Deprivation Index, BMI, and APOE ε4 genotype.

DesignCross-sectional observational study

Population313 cognitively unimpaired Black adults aged ≥45 years enrolled in the ARCHES (Aging Research Characterizing Health Exposome via Social Drivers) study.

Sample size313

InterventionPlasma biomarker quantification (GFAP and VCAM-1) and cognitive assessment.

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

Sample size313

Primary endpoint (PACC): VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction coefficient-1.36 × 10⁻⁶

95% CI-2.43 × 10⁻⁶ to -2.94 × 10⁻⁷

p-value0.013

FDR-adjusted p-value0.030

Standardized β-0.118

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference and temporality assessment.
Secondary outcome (MoCA) did not replicate the interaction, suggesting possible instability or specificity to PACC.
Cognitively unimpaired population limits generalisability to cognitively impaired or dementia groups.
Standardized β of -0.118 suggests small effect size; clinical significance unclear.

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

limited

Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference; no comparator or control arm.

Directness

limited

PACC is a preclinical composite; clinical cognition or dementia outcome not assessed.

Consistency

insufficient

Secondary outcome (MoCA) showed no significant association; interaction not replicated.

Risk of bias

moderate

Cross-sectional cohort; unmeasured confounding possible despite adjustment for sociodemographic factors.

Sample adequacy

moderate

N=313 cognitively unimpaired Black adults; single-centre ARCHES cohort limits generalisability.

Source abstract

Astrocytic injury and endothelial activation are interconnected processes within the neurovascular system that may contribute to variability in cognitive performance among cognitively unimpaired adults. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reflects astrocytic injury, while vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) reflects systemic endothelial activation. We examined whether VCAM-1 modifies associations between GFAP and cognition in cognitively unimpaired Black adults. This cross-sectional analysis included 313 Black adults aged ≥ 45 years enrolled in the Aging Research Characterizing Health Exposome via Social Drivers (ARCHES) study. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC) as the primary outcome and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a secondary outcome. Plasma GFAP and VCAM-1 were quantified using ultrasensitive immunoassays (NULISA™; Alamar Biosciences). Gaussian generalized linear models tested main effects and a VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction, adjusting for age, sex, and years of education; sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), body mass index (BMI), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype. VCAM-1 and GFAP did not show independent associations with PACC; however, the VCAM-1 × GFAP interaction was significant (β = -1.36 × 10⁻⁶, 95% CI: -2.43 × 10⁻⁶ to -2.94 × 10⁻⁷, p = 0.013; FDR p = 0.030; standardized β = -0.118) and remained significant after additional adjustment for ADI, BMI, and APOE ε4 status. Associations were not significant for MoCA. These findings suggest that VCAM-1 may modify the relationship between GFAP and cognitive performance in cognitively unimpaired Black adults.

Follow from this

Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.

Jean-Francois TraniBiomarkersAlexis I B WalkerSemere BekenaGanesh M BabulalYiqi ZhuRamkrishna K Singh