Alzheimer's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alzheimer's Disease, including details on diagnosis, memory loss, heredity, treatment, medication. | ||||||||
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Plasma amyloid beta-protein and C-reactive protein in relation to the rate of progression of Alzheimer disease.Locascio JJ, Fukumoto H, Yap L, Bottiglieri T, Growdon JH, Hyman BT, Irizarry MC Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Wang Ambulatory Care Center, Suite 720, Room 731-G, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman St, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jlocascio@partners.org OBJECTIVE: To examine whether plasma markers of amyloid precursor protein metabolism (amyloid beta-protein ending in Val-40 [Abeta40] and Ala-42 [Abeta42]), inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and folic acid metabolism (folic acid, vitamin B(12), and total homocysteine levels) are associated with the rate of cognitive and functional decline in persons with Alzheimer disease. DESIGN: Longitudinal study across a mean (SD) of 4.2 (2.6) years with assessments at approximately 6- to 12-month intervals. SETTING: Outpatient care. PATIENTS: A cohort of 122 patients having a clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease, each with at least 2 assessments across time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on the cognitive Information-Memory-Concentration subscale of the Blessed Dementia Scale and the functional Weintraub Activities of Daily Living Scale. RESULTS: Low plasma levels of Abeta40, Abeta42, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were associated with a significantly more rapid cognitive decline, as indexed using the Blessed Dementia Scale, than were high levels. Low levels of Abeta42 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly associated with more rapid functional decline on the Weintraub Activities of Daily Living Scale than were high levels. These plasma markers contributed about 5% to 12% of the variance accounted for on the Blessed Dementia Scale and the Activities of Daily Living Scale by fixed-effects predictors. Measures of folic acid metabolism were not associated with changes on either the Blessed Dementia Scale or the Activities of Daily Living Scale. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma markers of amyloid precursor protein metabolism and C-reactive protein may be associated with the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients with Alzheimer disease. Published 10 June 2008 in Arch Neurol, 65(6): 776-85.
© 2004-2008 Alzheimer's Disease Research Today. All Rights Reserved. |
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