International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Mar 2024)

Difference of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Profiles among Normal Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia Patient

  • Ching-Chi Hsu,
  • Shiow-Ing Wang,
  • Hong-Chun Lin,
  • Eric S. Lin,
  • Fan-Pei Yang,
  • Ching-Mao Chang,
  • James Cheng-Chung Wei

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073919
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 7
p. 3919

Abstract

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The delineation of biomarkers and neuropsychiatric symptoms across normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia stages holds significant promise for early diagnosis and intervention strategies. This research investigates the association of neuropsychiatric symptoms, evaluated via the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (Amyloid-β42, P-tau, T-tau) across a spectrum of cognitive states to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment approaches. Drawing from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s Uniform Data Set Version 3, comprising 977 individuals with normal cognition, 270 with MCI, and 649 with dementia. To assess neuropsychiatric symptoms, we employed the NPI to understand the behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with each cognitive category. For the analysis of CSF biomarkers, we measured levels of Amyloid-β42, P-tau, and T-tau using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Luminex multiplex xMAP assay protocols. These biomarkers are critical in understanding the pathophysiological underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease and its progression, with specific patterns indicative of disease stage and severity. This study cohort consists of 1896 participants, which is composed of 977 individuals with normal cognition, 270 with MCI, and 649 with dementia. Dementia is characterized by significantly higher NPI scores, which are largely reflective of mood-related symptoms (p p p p p p < 0.001). The notable disparities in NPI and CSF biomarkers among normal, MCI and Alzheimer’s patients underscore their diagnostic potential. Their combined assessment could greatly improve early detection and precise diagnosis of MCI and dementia, facilitating more effective and timely treatment strategies.

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