Abstract
BackgroundPeripheral diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continue to be developed. Diagnostics capable of detecting AD before the onset of symptoms are particularly desirable, and, given the fact that early detection is imperative for alleviating long-term symptoms of the disease, methods which enable detection in the earliest stages are urgently needed. Saliva testing is non-invasive, and saliva is easy to acquire. A simple, non-invasive saliva test can potentially be used as an adjunct to diagnose AD during its earliest stages.MethodsSalivary levels of beta amyloid 42 (Aβ42) were quantitated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent–type assays. Fifteen AD patients (7 men, mean age 77.8 ± 1.8 years, mean Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score 19.0 ± 1.3) and 7 normal controls (2 men, mean age 60.4 ± 4.7 years, mean MMSE 29.0 ± 0.4) were enrolled.ResultsSalivary Aβ42 levels were significantly higher in AD patients than in controls (51.7 ± 1.6 pg/mL for AD and 21.1 ± 0.3 pg/mL for controls, p < 0.001). Based on these results, saliva testing appears to be a promising method for detecting AD during its critical early stages.
Highlights
Peripheral diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continue to be developed
After saliva levels were stabilized and mixed with an anti-bacterial agent, we quantitated the Aβ42 in a series of samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-type assays (Aurin Biotech, Inc.)
The Aβ42 levels in saliva were found to be significantly higher in AD patients than in controls
Summary
Subjects Fifteen prospectively evaluated patients with mild to moderate AD were enrolled. 8 healthy patients with normal cognitive functioning were included as controls. The controls had no dementia or cognitive impairment and no neurodegenerative disease; they were intact functionally, physically, and socially; were age ≥ 50 years; and had MMSE scores ≥28. After collection, specimens were stored at room temperature until shipment, as described below. Residual specimens may be stored at 4 degrees Celsius for up to 1 year after collection. Laboratory analysis Saliva specimens were stored at room temperature until analyzed. Amounts of the saliva mixture varying from 0 (control) to 300 μL were added to the microwells, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)–type assays (Aurin Biotech, Inc.) were carried out as described by Lee et al [7]. An ANCOVA analysis was conducted with Abeta as the dependent variable and age as the covariate
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