2015.04.06
Reduced plasma desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio and longitudinal cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
Sato Y1, Bernier F1, Yamanaka Y2, Aoshima K1, Oda Y3, Ingelsson M4, Lannfelt L4, Miyashita A5, Kuwano R5, Ikeuchi T5.
1Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
2EIDIA Co., Ltd., Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, Japan.
3Eisai Inc., Andover, MA, USA.
4Geriatrics, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
5Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
Abstract
Background: We here examined whether plasma desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio (DES/CHO) is decreased in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and investigated the association between plasma DES/CHO and longitudinal cognitive decline.
Methods: Plasma DES/CHO of AD patients and age-matched controls in a Japanese cross-sectional cohort was determined. Plasma DES/CHO at baseline and follow-up visits was assessed in relation to cognitive decline in Japanese and Swedish longitudinal cohorts.
Results: Plasma DES/CHO was significantly reduced in Japanese AD patients and significantly correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The longitudinal analysis revealed that plasma DES/CHO in AD patients shows a significant decrease at follow-up intervals. The decline in plasma DES/CHO is larger in the AD group with rapid progression than in that with slow progression. The changes in plasma DES/CHO significantly correlated with changes in the MMSE score.
Conclusion: Plasma DES/CHO is decreased in AD patients and may serve as a longitudinal surrogate marker associated with cognitive decline.
