Research Article

Alzheimer’s disease Comorbidities and Inflammatory Parameters Correlate with Plasma GFAP: Conducting A Large-Scale Screening for AD

Abstract

Background: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is a major protein found in the astrocytic cells of the brain, and it is considered a marker of Alzheimer’s disease. This study aimed to examine the most common comorbidities in AD and how they affect the clinical management of patients. Additionally, we will delve into the early detection and diagnosis of AD, highlighting certain physiological markers and evaluating the relationship between comorbidities and GFAP, emphasizing its significance in the advancement of AD. Methodology: The research was conducted at General Hospitals Al Sader General Teaching in the province of Al-Najaf al-Ashraf and Karbala Hospital and external laboratories in Iraq. The study included sixty-three Iraqi individuals who underwent medical evaluations between September 2023 to May 2024. Thirty healthy adults without Alzheimer’s disease or any other comorbidities or inflammatory disease were included. Results: A total of 63 individuals diagnosed with AD participated in the study, including sixty-three AD patients and thirty controls. The median age of the AD participants was 73.14 ± 2.02 years, and the median BMI was 30.32 ± 1.53 kg/m2. AD patients showed a significant decrease in HB and HCT compared to controls. Additionally, elevated ESR, Cr, urea, AST, and ALP levels were observed in the Alzheimer’s disease group. IBS patients exhibited higher circulating GFAP concentrations (6.30 ± 2.09 pg/mL) than the healthy group. The area under the ROC curve was 0.893, and the GFAP cut-off was 0.517 pg/mL. Elevated GFAP concentrations were found to be correlated with higher ESR, CR, and ALP levels in AD patients. Conclusion: The correlated GFAP and ESR levels in AD patients showed the potential connection of risk factors for AD and how they may be related to inflammatory  mechanisms. Reduced kidney function was associated with increased levels of GFAP in AD patients. Furthermore, increased GFAP and ALP serum levels can be referred to as partly reflecting neuronal loss in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Authors affiliation:

Maryam Kadhim Al-Shemery (ORCID)- College of Science, Department of Pathological Analysis, University of Kufa, Iraq.
Doaa Amer Kadhim - College of Science, Department of Pathological Analysis, University of Kufa, Iraq.
Ashraf Raoof Mohammed Ali - College of Science, Department of Biology, University of Kufa, Iraq.

How to Cite: M.K. Al-Shemery, D.A. Kadhim, A.R.M. Ali. Alzheimer’s disease Comorbidities and Inflammatory Parameters Correlate with Plasma GFAP: Conducting A Large-Scale Screening for AD. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, 6(5):39–48, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm655