title: Metabolomic changes in autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolomics, the global science of biochemistry, provides powerful tools to map perturbations in the metabolic network and enables simultaneous quantification of several metabolites to identify metabolic perturbances that might provide insights into disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, we took a targeted electrochemistry-based metabolomics approach where liquid chromatography followed by coulometric array detection enables quantification of over 30 metabolites within key neurotransmitter pathways (dopamine and serotonin) and pathways involved in oxidative stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using samples from postmortem ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (15 Alzheimer's disease [AD] and 15 nondemented subjects with autopsy-confirmed diagnoses) and by using regression models, correlations, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and t-tests we identified alterations in tyrosine, tryptophan, purine, and tocopherol pathways in patients with AD. Reductions in norepinephrine and its related metabolites were also seen, consistent with previously published data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support further investigation of metabolomics in larger samples of clinical AD as well as in those with preclinical disease for use as biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. kaddu001@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaddurah-Daouk
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozen
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.forename: Xianlin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hulette
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: P Murali
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Doraiswamy
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Welsh-Bohmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001344:Autopsy; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011687:Purines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D015415:Biomarkers; D011687:Purines; D024505:Tocopherols