title: Does Alzheimer's disease with early onset progress faster than with late onset? A case-control study of clinical progression and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) is generally thought to have a more rapid course compared to late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). The faster progression of EOAD observed in some studies has also been thought to correlate with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Our clinical experience has not been suggestive of any difference in disease progression; therefore, we decided to investigate whether differences in clinical progression and CSF biomarkers between EOAD and LOAD could be demonstrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study with 42 patients, 21 EOAD and 21 matched LOAD patients. Rates of progression were calculated and these, as well as CSF biomarker levels, were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in clinical progression between the EOAD group and the LOAD group. There was no significant difference in the absolute values of CSF biomarkers, but a tendency towards lower levels of β-amyloid in patients with EOAD was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings did not converge with results from the majority of previous studies, which have been suggestive of a faster clinical progression in EOAD. Possibly, the very strict algorithm by which our patients were matched explains our findings. However, the findings should be repeated in a larger study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Roskilde Hospital, Køgevej 7–13, Roskilde, Denmark. helenegronning@gmail.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grønning
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gyllenborg
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dessau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Høgh
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders; D016743:Mental Competency; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers