title: Correlation between mini-mental state examination and platelet ADAM10 expression in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have demonstrated a decrease in platelet ADAM10 expression among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy matched subjects. The association between cognitive tests and molecular biomarkers, such as platelet ADAM10, may contribute to an accurate AD diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to investigate whether cognitive deficits in AD, assessed by Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), correlate with ADAM10 platelet levels and if that contributes to a more effective AD diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elderly patients with probable AD (n = 30) and a non-AD control group (n = 25), matched by age, gender, and education level were evaluated. Platelet proteins were analyzed on SDS-PAGE (10%) and ADAM10 expression was identified by western blotting. β-actin was used as the endogenous control. The Spearman correlation coefficient between ADAM10 and MMSE ratio was obtained for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MMSE ratio of AD subjects (0.45 ± 0.32) was significantly different (p < 0.001) compared to the non-AD group (1.14 ± 0.07). The relationship between MMSE ratio and ADAM10 expression was significant (r = 0.62, p = 0.0003) for the AD group. The combination of ADAM10 and MMSE at a cutoff ≤ 0.87 presented a sensitivity of 85%, and a specificity of 97% (AUC 0.99, 95% CI 0.92 -1.00), which was significantly better for AD diagnosis than the AUCs of MMSE (p = 0.05) and ADAM10 expression (p = 0.18) separately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of MMSE and ADAM10 expression was significantly better compared with MMSE and ADAM10 expression separately, thus providing and additional diagnostic tool for AD.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Gerontologia, Rodovia Washington Luís, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Regina
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Manzine
authors.forename: Elisabeth Joan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Barham
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis Carvalho do
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Heloisa Sobreiro
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Selistre-de-Araújo
authors.forename: Sofia Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Iost Pavarini
authors.forename: Márcia Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cominetti
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; C491236:ADAM10 protein, human