Latin american experience with Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers

SURACE E; COHEN G; MARTINETTO H; CHREM MENDEZ P; MARTIN E; SMYTH E; RUSSO G; AMENGUAL A; ALLEGRI R; LEIGUARDA R; SEVLEVER G; CAMPOS J

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Wiley

Año: 2013 vol. 61 p. 1229 - 1231

1532-5415

A promising advance to complement clinicaldiagnosis at an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)has been the measurement of biomarkers in cerebrospinalfluid (CSF).1 A decrease in CSF amyloid beta 42 (Ab42) isa marker of AD pathology caused by the accumulation ofamyloid-b in brain parenchyma,2 whereas increased totaltau (t-tau) and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) reflectneuronal degeneration and tangle pathology.3 AD is characterizedby episodic memory loss, cognitive impairment,behavioral disorders, and finally, dementia.4 Individualswith mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have memory deficitsbut, in contrast to those with AD, are functionallyintact and at higher risk of converting to AD than thosewithout MCI.4 It is difficult to predict clinically whichindividuals with MCI possess AD brain pathology and willtherefore progress to clinical AD.The aim of the present study was to evaluate CSF ADbiomarkers in their capacity to discriminate AD fromfrontotemporal dementia (FTD) and to predict progressionfrom MCI to AD. Data are presented on the first experienceto the knowledge of the authors in Latin America ofthe use of CSF biomarkers in a clinical follow–up study.