Decreased CSF-beta-amyloid 42 in Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may reflect mismetabolism of beta-amyloid induced by disparate mechanisms.
Both tau and beta-amyloid 42 (Abeta42) have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tau alone in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These proteins can be measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); differences from normal CSF levels may reflect pathophysiological mechanisms. Using ELISAs, we investigated the levels of total CSF-tau (here referred to as tau), phosphorylated CSF-tau (phosphotau), and Abeta42 in patients with AD (n = 19), FTD (n = 14), ALS (n = 11) and Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 15) and in age-matched controls (n = 17). Both CSF-tau and CSF-phosphotau were increased in AD compared with FTD (p < 0.001), ALS (p < 0.001), PD (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.001). CSF-Abeta42 was markedly decreased in AD and ALS (both p < 0.001) and slightly decreased in FTD (p < 0.01) and PD (p < 0.05) compared with controls. Using CSF-phosphotau may improve the differentiation of AD from FTD and ALS in clinical praxis. Furthermore, decreased CSF-Abeta42 levels may be common in neurodegenerative disorders possibly reflecting changes in the metabolism of beta-amyloid or axonal degeneration.
Sjögren
Magnus
M
Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.
Davidsson
Pia
P
Wallin
Anders
A
Granérus
Ann-Kathrine
AK
Grundström
Eva
E
Askmark
Håkan
H
Vanmechelen
Eugeen
E
Blennow
Kaj
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D003704:Dementia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016875:tau Proteins