Title:Erythrocyte Associated Amyloid-β as Potential Biomarker to Diagnose Dementia
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
关键词:
阿尔茨海默病，认知障碍，淀粉样蛋白β肽，生物标志物，红细胞相关Aβ42，Aβ40
摘要: Background: Although it is known that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the progressive
accumulation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) in the human brain, its pathogenic role has to be completely
clarified. Aβ moves from the bloodbrain barrier to the plasma and an increased Aβ production in
brain could be associated with higher Aβ concentrations in blood. A recent study has evaluated Aβ40
and Aβ42 levels in human red blood cells (RBCs) with evidence of agedependent higher Aβ concentration
in RBCs.
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate if erythrocyte associated Aβ (iAβ) levels could be
different in subjects affected by dementia in comparison with controls and according to the patient’s
cognitive impairment or different dementia subtypes.
Method: To answer these questions we assessed iAβ40 and iAβ42 levels in 116 patients: 32 healthy
controls, 39 with diagnosis of vascular dementia (VaD), 14 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 31
AD.
Results: In this population we found significant differences in iAβ42 between controls and cognitive
impaired patients. Moreover, iAβ42 significantly differed between dementia vs MCI. AD also showed
different iAβ42 levels as compared to VaD. Conversely, no differences were found for iAβ40. All the
analyses were adjusted for potential confounders like age, gender and Hb concentration. A direct correlation
between increasing iAβ42 concentration and the progression of the cognitive decline using the
MMSE score as continuous variable was also found.
Conclusion: Our findings support the evidence that iAβ42 could be an instrument to early recognize
dementia and predict cognitive impairment.
