Plasma proteins predict conversion to dementia from prodromal disease

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1552526014024546

Abstract
Background
The study aimed to validate previously discovered plasma biomarkers associated with AD, using a design based on imaging measures as surrogate for disease severity and assess their prognostic value in predicting conversion to dementia.

Methods
Three multicenter cohorts of cognitively healthy elderly, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD participants with standardized clinical assessments and structural neuroimaging measures were used. Twenty-six candidate proteins were quantified in 1148 subjects using multiplex (xMAP) assays.

Results
Sixteen proteins correlated with disease severity and cognitive decline. Strongest associations were in the MCI group with a panel of 10 proteins predicting progression to AD (accuracy 87%, sensitivity 85%, and specificity 88%).

Conclusions
We have identified 10 plasma proteins strongly associated with disease severity and disease progression. Such markers may be useful for patient selection for clinical trials and assessment of patients with predisease subjective memory complaints.

Keywords
Plasma; Mild cognitive impairment; Pathology; Alzheimer's disease; Biomarker; Prediction and magnetic resonance imaging