Cerebrospinal fluid tau protein levels in schizophrenia.
Increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau protein levels are generally considered to provide a sensitive marker of neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since a more pronounced cognitive decline has been described in older schizophrenic patients, it has been hypothesized that these patients might be at a higher risk of developing AD. CSF levels of total tau protein and tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 181 (phospho-tau) were determined among 19 older and younger patients with schizophrenia compared to 20 age-matched healthy controls. No significant differences in CSF total tau and phospho-tau levels arose between patients with schizophrenia and controls. Although our results do not exclude a progressive neurodegenerative pathology, they provide evidence against major neuronal degeneration such as an AD-related pathology associated with increased tau levels in schizophrenia.
Schönknecht
Peter
P
Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Hempel
Albrecht
A
Hunt
Aoife
A
Seidl
Ulrich
U
Volkmann
Martin
M
Pantel
Johannes
J
Schröder
Johannes
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D016875:tau Proteins