Current Alzheimer Research

Article Title:

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: To diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) in its initial stages is the main goal of recent AD studies. Cerebrospinal fluid growth associated protein (GAP)-43 has been proposed as a potential biomarker for AD and an indicator of synaptic degeneration. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to find out whether CSF GAP-43 is associated with brain atrophy and if it differs between mild cognitive impairment and cognitive normal subjects. METHODS: We examined 22 cognitive normal subjects and 29 mild cognitive impairment subjects enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort. We evaluated subjects brain atrophy rates using tensor-based morphometry-symmetric diffeomorphic image normalization method (TBM-SyN) which demonstrates annual brain atrophy rates and CSF GAP-43 levels. Data were analyzed in three time points: baseline, 24 and 48 month follow up. RESULTS: TBM scores and GAP-43 levels did not differ significantly between the CN and MCI groups at any time point. However, significant changes in TBM scores were observed over time in both groups. A significant negative correlation between TBM scores and GAP-43 levels was found in the CN group at baseline and at 48 months but this correlation was not present in the MCI group. Mixed-effects models revealed significant associations between time points and TBM scores, with no significant interaction involving GAP-43. CONCLUSIONS: GAP-43 levels correlate with TBM scores in CN individuals but not in those with MCI. Further studies are needed to validate its role in tracking cognitive decline in MCI.