Cognitive impairment in Glucocerebrosidase (GBA)‐associated PD: Not primarily associated with cerebrospinal fluid Abeta and Tau profiles

Abstract

A proportion of idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients (PDidiopathic ) with dementia show altered CSF profiles of amyloid β (Aβ) and Tau. PD patients with Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) mutations (PDGBA ) present with even more cognitive decline than seen in PDidiopathic . The objective of this study was to evaluate whether CSF profiles of Aβ and tau are associated with the prominent cognitive impairment in PDGBA . CSF levels of Aβ1-42 , t-Tau, p-Tau, and total alpha-synuclein were assessed in 479 participants (50 PDGBA , 308 PDidiopathic , 121 healthy controls). Older age was associated with cognitive impairment in PDGBA and PDidiopathic . Despite prominent cognitive impairment, PDGBA showed similar CSF levels of Aβ1-42 , t-Tau, and p-Tau as seen in healthy controls. In contrast, lower levels of Aβ1-42 and higher levels of t-Tau and p-Tau were associated with worse cognitive performance in PDidiopathic . The prominent cognitive impairment in PDGBA seems not primarily associated with Aβ and Tau profiles in CSF. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.