Potential blood biomarker for disease severity in the Taiwanese population with Alzheimer's disease

Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2013 Feb;28(1):75-83. doi: 10.1177/1533317512467674. Epub 2012 Dec 10.

Abstract

The identification of blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) could contribute for improvement in early diagnosis. To define AD biomarkers, we compared serum/plasma levels of amyloid β (Aβ), tau, cytokines, and biometals between AD and non-AD groups. Cognitive impairment was assessed by Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating scales. Plasma concentrations of total Aβ, Aβ(42), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 were quantified by immunoassays. Serum biometal concentrations were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. We found that serum zinc (Zn) was lower in patients with AD. After controlling for age, the MMSE score correlated with both TNF-α and total Aβ levels in the AD group, while the MMSE score correlated with iron only in the non-AD group. Our finding that blood Zn, TNF-α, and total Aβ are possible biomarkers for AD diagnosis and prognosis validates the pervious publication on potential biomarker in the Taiwanese population.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / blood*
  • Alzheimer Disease / epidemiology
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / blood*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / genetics
  • Copper / blood
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Iron / blood
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic
  • Taiwan / epidemiology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood
  • Zinc / blood
  • tau Proteins / blood

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • Interleukin-6
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • tau Proteins
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Zinc