Plasma beta-amyloid (A beta) 40 concentration, lipid status and age in humans.
The circulation constitutes a potential source of the beta-amyloid (A beta) protein deposited cerebrally in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cardiovascular risk factors, including hyperlipidaemia, may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Plasma A beta 40 was measured by radioimmunoassay in normal and hyperlipidaemic subjects with the aim of determining if plasma lipid content and/or age correlated with circulating A beta 40 concentration. Plasma A beta 40 levels in hyperlipidaemics were elevated by 20.3% compared to normal subjects. A beta 40 did not correlate with plasma lipids in normal subjects. Age, however, correlated positively with A beta 40 in these individuals and with total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides. No correlations were observed in hyperlipidaemic patients or when the data for the two groups were combined. These data are consistent with ageing, the primary risk factor for AD, but not hyperlipidaemia influencing circulating A beta 40 levels.
Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Sir Jules Thorn Institute, The Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London WIN 8AA, UK. christopher.smith@ucl.ac.uk
Christopher C T
CC
Smith
D John
DJ
Betteridge
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40)