Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and of continuously rising prevalence. The identification of easy-to-measure biomarkers capable to assist in the prediction and early diagnosis of AD is currently a main research goal. Lipid metabolites in peripheral blood of human patients have recently gained major attention in this respect. Here, we analyzed plasma of 174 participants (not demented at baseline; mean age: 75.70±0.44 years) of the Vienna Transdanube Aging (VITA) study, a longitudinal, population-based birth cohort study, at baseline and after 90 months or at diagnosis of probable AD. We determined the levels of specific choline phospholipids, some of which have been suggested as potential biomarkers for the prediction of AD. Our results show that during normal aging the levels of lysophosphatidylcholine, choline plasmalogen, and lyso-platelet activating factor increase significantly. Notably, we observed similar but more pronounced changes in the group that developed probable AD. Thus, our results imply that, in terms of choline-containing plasma phospholipids, the conversion to AD mimics an accelerated aging process. We conclude that age, even in the comparatively short time frame between 75 and 82.5 years, is a crucial factor in the quest for plasma lipid biomarkers for AD that must be carefully considered in future studies and trials.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia
Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and again 90 months later or, if earlier, at diagnosis of probable AD
The p value indicated above the brackets represents the comparison between aged control and AD patient groups according to analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. Affected individuals suffer from pronounced cognitive decline including memory loss, confusion, mood and personality changes, and, eventually, inability to manage everyday life. The detailed molecular mechanism underlying the disease is still unknown and numerous factors have been suggested to contribute to pathology [1]. Advanced age represents the greatest risk factor for AD. In addition to the three genes (APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2) associated with the rare familial (early onset) variants, genetic factors modulate the risk of developing the common sporadic forms of AD, with the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene being the most important so far [2]. F. Dorninger et al / Choline Phospholipids in Aging and AD
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