title: Serum uric acid is associated with apathy in early, drug-naïve Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Both low serum uric acid (UA) levels and apathy are considered biomarkers of cognitive decline and dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD). There is an urgent need to combine different biomarkers to predict disease course in PD. Data on the relationship between serum UA levels and apathy in PD are lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum UA levels and pure apathy in early, drug-naïve PD patients. Forty-nine early, drug-naïve PD patients were enrolled and stratified into two groups using the median serum UA levels at diagnosis (Group 1 serum UA ≤ 4.8 mg/dl; Group 2 serum UA > 4.8 mg/dl). The cohort was followed for the first 2 years of disease. Apathy was evaluated with the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). Patients with lower serum UA levels presented significant higher AES score compared to patients with higher serum UA levels. Regression analysis showed that baseline serum UA levels were significant determinants of AES scores at both baseline and 2-year follow up, irrespective of gender, age, attention/executive functions and dopamine replacement therapy when applicable. This is the first study showing a link between serum UA levels and apathy in non-demented, non-depressed, early, drug-naïve PD, being lower serum UA levels associated with greater apathy. Further follow up of our patients and replication of this observation in independent cohorts are needed to establish if this combination of biomarkers may help in characterizing a subgroup of PD patients at diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, Fisciano, 84131, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picillo
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.|IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erro
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, Fisciano, 84131, Italy.|IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amboni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prestipino
authors.affiliation: IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: IDC Hermitage-Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.|University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orefice
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, Fisciano, 84131, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, Fisciano, 84131, Italy. mpellecchia@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pellecchia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057565:Apathy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid
keywords: Acid uric; Apathy; Biomarker; Cognition; Early Parkinson; Parkinson’s disease; Urate