Differentiation of geriatric major depression from Alzheimer's disease with CSF tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 231.
OBJECTIVE
Differentiation of geriatric major depression from Alzheimer's disease is hampered by overlapping symptoms. Increased CSF concentrations of tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 231 (p-tau(231)) have been suggested as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. The authors asked whether p-tau(231) levels improve the differential diagnosis between geriatric major depression and Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Included were 34 depression subjects, 64 with probable Alzheimer's disease, 17 with possible Alzheimer's disease, and 21 healthy comparison subjects. P-tau(231) concentrations were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
P-tau(231) levels were significantly higher in Alzheimer's disease than in geriatric major depression patients and healthy comparison subjects. For differentiation of probable Alzheimer's disease from major depression, p-tau(231) correctly allocated 87% of subjects. When possible mild Alzheimer's disease was compared to major depression, p-tau(231) correctly allocated 78% of subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
CSF p-tau(231) should be evaluated as a potential biological marker for differentiation of geriatric depression from Alzheimer's disease.
Buerger
Katharina
K
Dementia Research Section and Memory Clinic, Alzheimer Memorial Center and Geriatric Psychiatry Branch, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany. katharina.buerger@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
Zinkowski
Raymond
R
Teipel
Stefan J
SJ
Arai
Hiroyuki
H
DeBernardis
John
J
Kerkman
Daniel
D
McCulloch
Cheryl
C
Padberg
Frank
F
Faltraco
Frank
F
Goernitz
Alexander
A
Tapiola
Tero
T
Rapoport
Stanley I
SI
Pirttilä
Tuula
T
Möller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Hampel
Harald
H
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013912:Threonine / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D016875:tau Proteins; D013912:Threonine