The clinical usefulness of plasma biomarkers of neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, and one of the most significant medical and social problems worldwide. Neurodegeneration, which is a pivotal mechanism underlying the disease, begins a few decades before the first symptoms appear. Therefore, establishing biomarkers that allow for the detection of this process as early as possible is vital. Mounting evidence indicates the crucial role of GFAP and NFL in the pathology of neurodegeneration in AD. The aim of the present study was to assess plasma concentrations of GFAP and NFL, and to test their potential utility in AD diagnosis.MethodPlasma concentrations of GFAP and NFL were measured using a Single molecule array (Simoa), while the classical biomarkers (Aβ‐42, Aβ‐42/Aβ‐40, tau, and pTau181) were assessed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 20 AD patients and 18 elderly subjects without cognitive deficits using ELISA technique.ResultPlasma concentrations of GFAP and NFL were significantly higher in AD patients as compared to non‐demented controls. The levels of plasma GFAP correlated negatively with MMSE, and CSF Aβ‐42, and positively with plasma concentrations of NFL, and CSF tau proteins in the whole study group. Furthermore, in the AD group, the association between GFAP and NFL was revealed.ConclusionPresented findings indicate that plasma GFAP and NFL could be applied as a non‐invasive and accessible tool for detection of early neuronal dysfunction in patients with AD.