In vivo Prevalence of Alzheimer Biomarkers in Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2019;47(4-6):289-296. doi: 10.1159/000500567. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Abstract

Background: Neuropathological studies indicate concomitant Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Objectives: To measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of β-amyloid peptide with 42 amino acids (Aβ42), total tau protein (τT), and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (τP-181) in 38 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of probable DLB according to the most recent (4th consensus) report.

Methods: Double-sandwich commercial ELISAs (Innotest; Fujirebio, Gent, Belgium) were used for measurements.

Results: According to the current cutoff values of our laboratory, 4 biomarker profiles were noted: abnormal levels of Aβ42 only (44.7%), full AD profile (39.5%), abnormal levels of τT only (5.3%), and normal levels of all 3 biomarkers (10.5%). AD profile was associated with female sex, older age, lower education, and lower MMSE scores.

Conclusions: Reduction in Αβ42 in DLB may be more common (>80% of patients) than previously thought, and ∼40% may have the typical CSF AD biomarker profile. AD biochemistry in DLB may be an evolving process showing increasing frequency with disease progression.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Biomarkers; Cerebrospinal fluid; Dementia with Lewy bodies; Phospho-tau; Tau protein; β-Amyloid.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lewy Body Disease / metabolism*
  • Lewy Body Disease / psychology
  • Male
  • Mental Status and Dementia Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Reference Values
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • tau Proteins / analysis

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • tau Proteins