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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Neurogranin and YKL-40: independent markers of synaptic degeneration and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: Konstantin Hellwig, Hlin Kvartsberg, Erik Portelius, Ulf Andreasson, Timo Jan Oberstein, Piotr Lewczuk, Kaj Blennow, Johannes Kornhuber, Juan Manuel Maler, Henrik Zetterberg, Philipp Spitzer

Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Introduction

Neuroinflammation and synaptic degeneration are major neuropathological hallmarks in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Neurogranin and YKL-40 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are newly discovered markers indicating synaptic damage and microglial activation, respectively.

Methods

CSF samples from 95 individuals including 39 patients with AD dementia (AD-D), 13 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (MCI-AD), 29 with MCI not due to AD (MCI-o) and 14 patients with non-AD dementias (non-AD-D) were analyzed for neurogranin and YKL-40.

Results

Patients with dementia or MCI due to AD showed elevated levels of CSF neurogranin (p < 0.001 for AD-D and p < 0.05 for MCI-AD) and YKL-40 (p < 0.05 for AD-D and p = 0.15 for MCI-AD) compared to mildly cognitively impaired subjects not diagnosed with AD. CSF levels of neurogranin and YKL-40 did not differ between MCI not due to AD and non-AD dementias. In AD subjects no correlation between YKL-40 and neurogranin was found. The CSF neurogranin levels correlated moderately with tau and p-tau but not with Aβ₄₂ or the MMSE in AD samples. No relevant associations between YKL-40 and MMSE or the core AD biomarkers, Aβ₄₂, t-tau and p-tau were found in AD subjects.

Conclusions

Neurogranin and YKL-40 are promising AD biomarkers, independent of and complementary to the established core AD biomarkers, reflecting additional pathological changes in the course of AD.

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Title: Neurogranin and YKL-40: independent markers of synaptic degeneration and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Konstantin Hellwig
Hlin Kvartsberg
Erik Portelius
Ulf Andreasson
Timo Jan Oberstein
Piotr Lewczuk
Kaj Blennow
Johannes Kornhuber
Juan Manuel Maler
Henrik Zetterberg
Philipp Spitzer
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1758-9193
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-015-0161-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Neurogranin and YKL-40: independent markers of synaptic degeneration and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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