Plasma biomarkers of amyloid, tau, axonal, and neuroinflammation pathologies in dementia with Lewy bodies.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports the use of plasma biomarkers of amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation for diagnosis of dementia. However, their performance for positive and differential diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in clinical settings is still uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective biomarker study in two tertiary memory centers, Paris Lariboisière and CM2RR Strasbourg, France, enrolling patients with DLB (n = 104), Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 76), and neurological controls (NC, n = 27). Measured biomarkers included plasma Aß40/Aß42 ratio, p-tau181, NfL, and GFAP using SIMOA and plasma YKL-40 and sTREM2 using ELISA. DLB patients with available CSF analysis (n = 90) were stratified according to their CSF Aß profile. RESULTS: DLB patients displayed modified plasma Aß ratio, p-tau181, and GFAP levels compared with NC and modified plasma Aß ratio, p-tau181, GFAP, NfL, and sTREM2 levels compared with AD patients. Plasma p-tau181 best differentiated DLB from AD patients (ROC analysis, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.80) and NC (AUC = 0.78), and combining biomarkers did not improve diagnosis performance. Plasma p-tau181 was the best standalone biomarker to differentiate amyloid-positive from amyloid-negative DLB cases (AUC = 0.75) and was associated with cognitive status in the DLB group. Combining plasma Aß ratio, p-tau181 and NfL increased performance to identify amyloid copathology (AUC = 0.79). Principal component analysis identified different segregation patterns of biomarkers in the DLB and AD groups. CONCLUSIONS: Amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation plasma biomarkers are modified in DLB, albeit with moderate diagnosis performance. Plasma p-tau181 can contribute to identify Aß copathology in DLB.

Association of Plasma Amyloid, P-Tau, GFAP, and NfL With CSF, Clinical, and Cognitive Features in Patients With Dementia With Lewy Bodies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma ß-amyloid-1-42/1-40 (Aß42/40), phosphorylated-tau (P-tau), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) have been widely examined in Alzheimer disease (AD), but little is known about their reflection of copathologies, clinical importance, and predictive value in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We aimed to evaluate associations of these biomarkers with CSF amyloid, cognition, and core features in DLB. METHODS: This cross-sectional multicenter cohort study with prospective component included individuals with DLB, AD, and healthy controls (HCs), recruited from 2002 to 2020 with an annual follow-up of up to 5 years, from the European-Dementia With Lewy Bodies consortium. Plasma biomarkers were measured by single-molecule array (Neurology 4-Plex E kit). Amyloid status was determined by CSF Aß42 concentrations, and cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Biomarker differences across groups, associations with amyloid status, and clinical core features were assessed by analysis of covariance. Associations with cognitive impairment and decline were assessed by linear regression and linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: In our cohort consisting of 562 individuals (HC n = 89, DLB n = 342, AD n = 131; 250 women [44.5%], mean [SD] age of 71 [8] years), sex distribution did not differ between groups. Patients with DLB were significantly older, and had less years of education and worse baseline cognition than HC, but not AD. DLB participants stratified for amyloid status differed significantly in plasma Aß42/40 ratio (decreased in amyloid abnormal: ß = -0.008, 95% CI -0.016 to -0.0003, p = 0.01) and P-tau (increased in amyloid abnormal, P-tau181: ß = 0.246, 95% CI 0.011-0.481; P-tau231: ß = 0.227, 95% CI 0.035-0.419, both p < 0.05), but not in GFAP (ß = 0.068, 95% CI -0.018 to 0.153, p = 0.119), and NfL (ß = 0.004, 95% CI -0.087 to 0.096, p = 0.923) concentrations. Higher baseline GFAP, NfL, and P-tau concentrations were associated with lower MMSE scores in DLB, and GFAP and NfL were associated with a faster cognitive decline (GFAP: annual change of -2.11 MMSE points, 95% CI -2.88 to -1.35 MMSE points, p < 0.001; NfL: annual change of -2.13 MMSE points, 95% CI -2.97 to -1.29 MMSE points, p < 0.001). DLB participants with parkinsonism had higher concentrations of NfL (ß = 0.08, 95% CI 0.02-0.14, p = 0.006) than those without. DISCUSSION: Our study suggests a possible utility of plasma Aß42/40, P-tau181, and P-tau231 as a noninvasive biomarkers to assess amyloid copathology in DLB, and plasma GFAP and NfL as monitoring biomarkers for cognitive symptoms in DLB.

Diagnostic value of CSF chromogranin A to discriminate between Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

BACKGROUND: Chromogranin A (CgA) seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of different neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). CgA is present in the aggregates of amyloid plaques and in Lewy bodies but CgA also has a function in neuroinflammatory processes via microglia. Our objective was to determine if there is a difference in the CgA concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD and DLB patients and whether the CgA concentration can discriminate between the two diseases. METHODS: Using the previously described AlphaLewyMA cohort, we included 117 patients with a CSF CgA assay: 15 control subjects (CS group), 64 DLB patients, 17 AD patients and 21 patients with both AD and probable DLB criteria (AD/DLB group). CgA concentration was assessed using the MSD platform. RESULTS: CSF CgA was increased in the AD and AD/DLB groups compared with the DLB group (p = 0.0006 between AD and DLB, p = 0.0013 between AD/DLB and DLB). No significant difference in CgA concentration was found between DLB and CS. ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.791 between AD and DLB. CgA concentrations were correlated with t-Tau and P-Tau regardless of the pathology (for Tau: p = 0.022 for AD; p < 0.0001 for DLB; p = 0.004 for AD/DLB; for P-Tau: p = 0.032 for AD; p < 0.0001 for DLB; p = 0.0009 for AD/DLB). Aß42 was positively correlated with CgA in the DLB group but not in the AD and AD/DLB groups (for DLB: p < 0.0001; for AD: p = 0.57; for AD/DLB: p = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: CSF CgA concentrations are increased in AD but not in DLB and correlate with P-Tau and Tau whatever the disease. These results suggest a link between tauopathy/neurodegeneration and CgA.

Involvement of ApoE4 in dementia with Lewy bodies in the prodromal and demented stages: evaluation of the Strasbourg cohort.

ApoE4 as a risk factor for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is still an issue. We sought to determine the involvement of ApoE4 according to different clinical parameters in our cohort of patients from Strasbourg, France. ApoE genotyping was performed on the AlphaLewyMA cohort. In this cohort, 197 patients were genotyped: 105 DLB patients, 37 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 29 patients with AD/DLB comorbidity, and 26 control subjects (CS). The groups of patients were also classified according to the stage of evolution of the disease: prodromal or demented. We analyzed other parameters in relation to ApoE4 status, such as years of education (YOE) and Alzheimer CSF biomarkers. We observed a higher proportion of ApoE4 carriers in the AD (51.4%) and AD/DLB (72.4%) groups compared to the DLB (25.7%) and CS (11.5%) groups (p < 0.0001). We found a correlation between age at disease onset and YOE in the AD group (p = 0.039) but not in the DLB group (p = 0.056). Interestingly, in the DLB group, the subgroup of patients with high YOE (≥ 11) had significantly more patients with ApoE4 than the subgroup with low YOE (< 11). AD biomarkers did not seem to be impacted by the presence of ApoE4, except for Aß42: DLB ApoE4-positive demented patients showed a more marked Aß42 decrease. ApoE4 does not appear to be a risk factor for "pure" DLB patients. These results suggest a strong link between ApoE4 and amyloidopathy and consequently with AD. Trial registration: AlphaLewyMa, Identifier: NCT01876459, date of registration: June 12, 2013.

Epileptic Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease Treated with Antiseizure Medications: Medium-Term Outcome of Seizures and Cognition.

BACKGROUND: The medium term outcome (over more than one year) of epileptic prodromal AD (epAD) patients treated with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is unknown in terms of seizure response, treatment tolerability, and cognitive and functional progression. OBJECTIVE: To describe such medium term outcome over a mean of 5.1±2.1 years. METHODS: We retrospectively compared 19 epAD patients with 16 non-epileptic prodromal AD (nepAD) patients: 1) at baseline for demographics, medical history, cognitive fluctuations (CFs), psychotropic medications, MMSE scores, visually rated hippocampal atrophy, CSF neurodegenerative biomarkers, and standard EEG recordings; 2) during follow-up (FU) for psychotropic medications, MMSE progression, and conversion to dementia. In the epAD group, we analyzed baseline and FU types of seizures as well as each line of ASM with the corresponding efficacy and tolerability. RESULTS: At baseline, the epAD group had more CFs than the nepAD group (58% versus 20%, p = 0.03); focal impaired awareness seizures were the most common type (n = 12, 63.1%), occurring at a monthly to quarterly frequency (89.5%), and were well controlled with monotherapy in 89.5% of cases (including 63.1% seizure-free individuals). During FU, treated epAD patients did not differ significantly from nepAD patients in MMSE progression or in conversion to dementia. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy is commonly controlled with ASMs over the medium term in epAD patients, with similar functional and cognitive outcomes to nepAD patients. Pathophysiologically, epilepsy is likely to be an ASM-modifiable cognitive aggravating factor at this stage of AD.

Neural correlates of photophobia in prodromal and mild dementia with Lewy bodies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Photophobia is a sensory disturbance provoked by light. Little is known about the association between photophobia and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In this study, we aimed to identify the frequency and the neural basis of photophobia in prodromal and mild DLB. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen DLB patients, 53 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 20 AD and DLB patients, 31 patients with other neurocognitive diseases (including prodromal and mild demented patients), and 31 healthy elderly controls were included in this case-control study. Photophobia was systematically looked for and compared between groups. Among a selection of 77 DLB patients, we used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to compare those with and those without photophobia (gray matter volume; SPM12, XjView, and Matlab R2021b software). RESULTS: The frequency of photophobia was higher in the DLB group (47.3%) than in the other groups (p = 0.002). The photophobia questionnaire score was higher in the DLB group than in the AD group (p = 0.001). Comparison between DLB patients with and those without photophobia showed decreased gray matter in the photophobia subgroup, in the right precentral cortex, in the eyelid motor region of Penfield's homunculus (p = 0.007, family-wise error [FWE] corrected). CONCLUSIONS: Photophobia is a quite frequent symptom of prodromal and mild DLB. The neural basis of photophobia in DLB involves the right precentral cortex, which could have a role in the decrease of cerebral excitability, but also the motricity of the eyelids.

Memory Outcome in Prodromal and Mild Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Alzheimer's Disease: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are likely to induce memory impairments from the prodromal stage but, to our knowledge, no longitudinal study of these patients' memory profile has been conducted to date. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics and the evolution of the long-term memory profile of patients with prodromal and mild DLB and AD. METHODS: We collected verbal (RL/RI-16) and visual (DMS48) memory scores from 91 DLB patients, 28 AD patients, 15 patients with both conditions (DLB/AD), and 18 healthy control subjects at their inclusion visit and at 12, 24, and 48 months. RESULTS: On the RL/RI-16, DLB patients performed better than AD patients in terms of total recall (p < 0.001), delayed total recall (p < 0.001), recognition (p = 0.031), and loss of information over time (p = 0.023). On the DMS48, differences between these two groups were not significant (p > 0.05). Longitudinally, the memory performance of DLB patients was stable over 48 months, unlike that of AD patients. CONCLUSION: Four indicators were relevant to distinguish between DLB and AD patients in terms of memory performance: DLB patients benefitted greatly from semantic cueing, their recognition and consolidation abilities were well-preserved, and both their verbal and visual memory performance remained remarkably stable over four years. However, no performance differences between DLB and AD patients were found regarding visual memory, either qualitatively (memory profile) or quantitatively (severity of impairment), indicating the lesser relevance of this test in distinguishing between these two diseases.

Transient epileptic amnesia: a retrospective cohort study of 127 cases, including CSF amyloid and tau features.

BACKGROUND: Transient epileptic amnesia (TEA) is a late-onset epilepsy syndrome encompassing transient iterative amnesias and interictal cognitive impairment, two features that overlap with incipient neurodegenerative dementias. We, therefore, examined the yield of CSF amyloid and tau biomarkers in TEA. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 127 TEA patients with unremarkable imaging findings were divided into 2 groups, namely, CSF (n = 71) and no-CSF (n = 56). Both were compared for demographics; medical history; baseline neurological, cognitive, and behavioral features; baseline mesial temporal lobe atrophy; and cognitive follow-up at a median of 13 months. CSF samples were examined for amyloid ß-42 peptide as well as phospho-tau and total-tau levels. RESULTS: At baseline, the CSF-TEA group had significantly (p < 0.01) more frequent mild parkinsonism (42.9% vs. 20%) and cognitive concerns (31% vs. 10.7%), a more blunted sense of smell (34.3% vs. 9.4%), a lower baseline MMSE score (27 vs. 28.9), a more frequent amnestic mild cognitive impairment profile (69% vs. 42.6%), and more atrophic hippocampal changes. At follow-up, the CSF-TEA group had significantly (p < 0.01) lower MMSE scores (27.8 vs. 28.9). CSF analyses revealed amyloid and/or tau changes in 27 patients (38%), including an Alzheimer's disease (AD) profile in 17 (24%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a good diagnostic value of CSF sampling in a specific population of TEA with characteristics suggestive of incipient degenerative diseases (i.e., red flags). It argues for TEA being the inaugurating feature in some cases of AD. More broadly, our results suggest an etiological heterogeneity in TEA.

Neurofilaments: a key new biomarker for clinicians. Part 1: Importance of neurofilaments in the management of neurodegenerative diseases / Les neurofilaments : un nouveau biomarqueur clé pour les cliniciens. Partie 1 : Intérêt des neurofilaments dans la prise en charge des maladies neurodégénératives

Neurological biomarkers are of great use for clinicians, as they can be used for numerous purposes: guiding clinical diagnosis, estimating prognosis, assessing disease stage and monitoring progression or response to treatment. This field of neurology has evolved considerably in recent years due to analytical improvements in assay methods, now allowing the detection of biomarkers not only in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but also in blood. This progress greatly facilitates the repeated quantification of biomarkers, the collection of blood being much less invasive than that of CSF. Among the various informative biomarkers of neurological disorders, neurofilaments light chains (NfL) have proven to be particularly attractive in many contexts, in particular for the diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases (which this review will present), but also in other contexts of neurological disorders (which will be detailed in part 2). We further address the added value of NfL compared to other biomarkers commonly used to monitor the diseases described in this review.

Les biomarqueurs neurologiques sont d'une grande utilité, car ils peuvent être utilisés à de nombreuses fins : orienter le diagnostic clinique, estimer le pronostic, évaluer le stade de la maladie et surveiller la progression ou la réponse au traitement. Ce domaine de la neurologie a considérablement évolué ces dernières années grâce à l'amélioration des méthodes de dosage, permettant désormais la détection de biomarqueurs non seulement dans le liquide cérébro-spinal (LCS) mais aussi dans le sang. Ce progrès facilite la quantification répétée des biomarqueurs, le prélèvement de sang étant beaucoup moins invasif que celui du LCS. Parmi les différents biomarqueurs informatifs des troubles neurologiques, la chaîne légère des neurofilaments (NfL) s'est révélée particulièrement intéressante dans de nombreux contextes, notamment pour le diagnostic et le pronostic des maladies neurodégénératives (que cette revue présentera), mais aussi dans d'autres contextes de troubles neurologiques (qui seront détaillés dans la partie 2). La valeur ajoutée du NfL par rapport aux autres biomarqueurs couramment utilisés est analysée.

Neurofilaments: a key new biomarker for clinicians. Part 2: Neurofilaments, an asset beyond neurodegenerative diseases / Les neurofilaments : un nouveau biomarqueur clé pour les cliniciens. Partie 2 : Neurofilaments, un intérêt au-delà des maladies neurodégénératives.

Neurofilaments (Nf) are proteins selectively expressed in the cytoskeleton of neurons, and their increase is a marker of neuronal damage. The potential utility of neurofilament light chain (NfL) has recently increased considerably, well beyond neurodegenerative diseases, due to analytical advances that allow measurement of their concentrations (even low ones) in cerebrospinal fluid and blood. This article completes the first part, in which we presented the interest of NfL in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Here we focus our review on other clinical contexts of neurological injury (such as traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and cancer) and present the potential value of NfL assay in the management of these patients, for both diagnosis and prognosis. We also discuss the added value of the NfL assay compared to other biomarkers commonly used in the described clinical situations.

Les neurofilaments (Nf) sont des protéines sélectivement exprimées dans le cytosquelette des neurones, dont l'augmentation est un marqueur de dommages neuronaux. L'utilité potentielle de la chaîne légère des neurofilaments (NfL) s'est récemment considérablement accrue, bien au-delà des maladies neurodégénératives, grâce aux progrès analytiques permettant de mesurer leurs niveaux (mêmes faibles) dans le liquide cérébro-spinal et le sang. Cet article complète la première partie, dans laquelle nous avions présenté l'intérêt des NfL dans le contexte des maladies neurodégénératives. Nous axons ici notre revue sur d'autres contextes cliniques de lésions neurologiques (tels que les traumatismes crâniens, la sclérose en plaques, les accidents vasculaires cérébraux et le cancer) et présentons l'intérêt potentiel du dosage des NfL pour la prise en charge de ces patients, tant au niveau diagnostique que pronostique. Nous discutons également de la plus-value du dosage des NfL par rapport aux autres biomarqueurs couramment utilisés dans les contextes cliniques décrits.

Neurofilaments contribution in clinic: state of the art.

Neurological biomarkers are particularly valuable to clinicians as they can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, or response to treatment. This field of neurology has evolved considerably in recent years with the improvement of analytical methods, allowing the detection of biomarkers not only in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but also in less invasive fluids like blood. These advances greatly facilitate the repeated quantification of biomarkers, including at asymptomatic stages of the disease. Among the various informative biomarkers of neurological disorders, neurofilaments (NfL) have proven to be of particular interest in many contexts, such as neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and cancer. Here we discuss these different pathologies and the potential value of NfL assay in the management of these patients, both for diagnosis and prognosis. We also describe the added value of NfL compared to other biomarkers currently used to monitor the diseases described in this review.

Prodromal characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies: baseline results of the MEMENTO memory clinics nationwide cohort.

BACKGROUND: Isolated subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are the prodromal phases of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). MEMENTO is a nationwide study of patients with SCI and MCI with clinic, neuropsychology, biology, and brain imaging data. We aimed to compare SCI and MCI patients with symptoms of prodromal DLB to others in this study at baseline. METHODS: Participants of the French MEMENTO cohort study were recruited for either SCI or MCI. Among them, 892 were included in the Lewy sub-study, designed to search specifically for symptoms of DLB. Probable prodromal DLB diagnosis (pro-DLB group) was done using a two-criteria cutoff score among the four core clinical features of DLB. This Pro-DLB group was compared to two other groups at baseline: one without any core symptoms (NS group) and the one with one core symptom (1S group). A comprehensive cognitive battery, questionnaires on behavior, neurovegetative and neurosensory symptoms, brain 3D volumetric MRI, CSF, FDG PET, and amyloid PET were done. RESULTS: The pro-DLB group comprised 148 patients (16.6%). This group showed more multidomain (59.8%) MCI with slower processing speed and a higher proportion of patients with depression, anxiety, apathy, constipation, rhinorrhea, sicca syndrome, and photophobia, compared to the NS group. The pro-DLB group had isolated lower P-Tau in the CSF (not significant after adjustments for confounders) and on brain MRI widening of sulci including fronto-insular, occipital, and olfactory sulci (FDR corrected), when compared to the NS group. Evolution to dementia was not different between the three groups over a median follow-up of 2.6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with symptoms of prodromal DLB are cognitively slower, with more behavioral disorders, autonomic symptoms, and photophobia. The occipital, fronto-insular, and olfactory bulb involvement on brain MRI was consistent with symptoms and known neuropathology. The next step will be to study the clinical, biological, and imaging evolution of these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov , NCT01926249.

Biomarkers of Dementia with Lewy Bodies: Differential Diagnostic with Alzheimer's Disease.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is a common form of cognitive neurodegenerative disease. Only one third of patients are correctly diagnosed due to the clinical similarity mainly with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we evaluate the interest of different biomarkers: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), brain MRI, FP-CIT SPECT, MIBG SPECT, PET by focusing more specifically on differential diagnosis between DLB and AD. FP-CIT SPECT is of high interest to discriminate DLB and AD, but not at the prodromal stage (i.e., MCI). MIBG SPECT with decreased cardiac sympathetic activity, perfusion SPECT with occipital hypoperfusion, FDG PET with occipital hypometabolism and cingulate island signs are of interest at the dementia stage but with a lower validity. Brain MRI has shown differences in group study with lower grey matter concentration of the Insula in prodromal DLB, but its interest in clinical routines is not demonstrated. Concerning CSF biomarkers, many studies have already examined the relevance of AD biomarkers but also alpha-synuclein assays in DLB, so we will focus as comprehensively as possible on other biomarkers (especially those that do not appear to be directly related to synucleinopathy) that may be of interest in the differential diagnosis between AD and DLB. Furthermore, we would like to highlight the growing interest in CSF synuclein RT-QuIC, which seems to be an excellent discrimination tool but its application in clinical routine remains to be demonstrated, given the non-automation of the process.

Parsing heterogeneity within dementia with Lewy bodies using clustering of biological, clinical, and demographic data.

BACKGROUND: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) includes various core clinical features that result in different phenotypes. In addition, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular pathologies are common in DLB. All this increases the heterogeneity within DLB and hampers clinical diagnosis. We addressed this heterogeneity by investigating subgroups of patients with similar biological, clinical, and demographic features. METHODS: We studied 107 extensively phenotyped DLB patients from the European DLB consortium. Factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) was used to identify dimensions in the data, based on sex, age, years of education, disease duration, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of AD biomarkers, core features of DLB, and regional brain atrophy. Subsequently, hierarchical clustering analysis was used to subgroup individuals based on the FAMD dimensions. RESULTS: We identified 3 dimensions using FAMD that explained 38% of the variance. Subsequent hierarchical clustering identified 4 clusters. Cluster 1 was characterized by amyloid-ß and cerebrovascular pathologies, medial temporal atrophy, and cognitive fluctuations. Cluster 2 had posterior atrophy and showed the lowest frequency of visual hallucinations and cognitive fluctuations and the worst cognitive performance. Cluster 3 had the highest frequency of tau pathology, showed posterior atrophy, and had a low frequency of parkinsonism. Cluster 4 had virtually normal AD biomarkers, the least regional brain atrophy and cerebrovascular pathology, and the highest MMSE scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that there are subgroups of DLB patients with different biological, clinical, and demographic characteristics. These findings may have implications in the diagnosis and prognosis of DLB, as well as in the treatment response in clinical trials.

Clinical reporting following the quantification of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease: An international overview.

INTRODUCTION: The current practice of quantifying cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers as an aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) varies from center to center. For a same biochemical profile, interpretation and reporting of results may differ, which can lead to misunderstandings and raises questions about the commutability of tests. METHODS: We obtained a description of (pre-)analytical protocols and sample reports from 40 centers worldwide. A consensus approach allowed us to propose harmonized comments corresponding to the different CSF biomarker profiles observed in patients. RESULTS: The (pre-)analytical procedures were similar between centers. There was considerable heterogeneity in cutoff definitions and report comments. We therefore identified and selected by consensus the most accurate and informative comments regarding the interpretation of CSF biomarkers in the context of AD diagnosis. DISCUSSION: This is the first time that harmonized reports are proposed across worldwide specialized laboratories involved in the biochemical diagnosis of AD.

CSF in Epileptic Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease: No Diagnostic Contribution but a Pathophysiological One.

Objective: To study whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis may serve as a diagnostic test for the screening of epilepsy in sporadic prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A total of 29 patients with epileptic prodromal sporadic AD patients (epADs) were included and were retrospectively compared with 38 non-epileptic prodromal AD patients (nepADs) for demographics, clinical features, Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) results, CSF biomarkers, and electro-radiological features. Results: Our study did not show any significant differences in CSF biomarkers regarding neurodegeneration, albumin levels, and inflammation between epADs and nepADs. The epADs were significantly older at diagnosis (p = 0.001), more hypertensive (p = 0.01), and displayed larger white matter hyperintensities on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; p = 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the CSF Aß-42 and Aß-40 levels with interictal epileptiform discharges and delta slowing on EEGs recordings, respectively (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Our study suggests that CSF may not serve as a surrogate marker of epilepsy in prodromal AD and cannot circumvent the operator-dependent and time-consuming interpretation of EEG recordings. In humans, AD-related epileptogenesis appears to involve the Aß peptides but likely also additional non-amyloid factors such as small-vessel disease (i.e., white matter hyperintensities).

Association of cerebral microbleeds with cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer-biomarkers and clinical symptoms in early dementia with Lewy bodies.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, localization and associations of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with its core clinical symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We hypothesize DLB patients with CMB have increased amyloid burden compared to those without CMB, which could also translate into clinical differences. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis from the AlphaLewyMA study (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01876459). Patients underwent a standardized protocol of brain MRI including 3D T1, 3D FLAIR and T2* sequences, and CSF analysis of AD biomarkers. CMB and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were visually assessed in prodromal and mild demented (DLB, N = 91) and AD (AD, N = 67) patients. RESULTS: CMB prevalence did not differ among DLB and AD (24.2% vs. 37.3%; p = 0.081). CMB were mainly distributed in lobar topographies in both DLB (74%) and AD (89%). CMB in DLB was not associated with global cognitive performance, executive functioning, speed of information processing, or AD CSF biomarkers. Similarly, there was no difference regarding specific clinical symptoms: fluctuations, psychotic phenomena, sleep behavior disorder and Parkinsonism between DLB patients with and without CMB. AD patients with CMB had increased burden of WMH compared to those without (2.1 ± 0.86 vs. 1.4 ± 0.89; p = 0.005), according to Fazekas scale, whereas no significant difference was observed in DLB patients (1.68 ± 0.95 vs. 1.42 ± 0.91; p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: CMB were equally prevalent with similar topographic distribution in both DLB and AD patients. CMB was not associated with CSF AD biomarkers or core clinical symptoms in DLB.

Differential diagnostic value of total alpha-synuclein assay in the cerebrospinal fluid between Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies from the prodromal stage.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated the value of alpha-synuclein assay in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) patients in the differential diagnosis of these two pathologies. However, very few studies have focused on this assay in AD and DLB patients at the MCI stage. METHODS: All patients were enrolled under a hospital clinical research protocol from the tertiary Memory Clinic (CM2R) of Alsace, France, by an experienced team of clinicians. A total of 166 patients were included in this study: 21 control subjects (CS), 51 patients with DLB at the prodromal stage (pro-DLB), 16 patients with DLB at the demented stage (DLB-d), 33 AD patients at the prodromal stage (pro-AD), 32 AD patients at the demented stage (AD-d), and 13 patients with mixed pathology (AD+DLB). CSF levels of total alpha-synuclein were assessed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for alpha-synuclein (AJ Roboscreen). Alzheimer's biomarkers (t-Tau, P-Tau, Aß42, and Aß40) were also measured. RESULTS: The alpha-synuclein assays showed a significant difference between the AD and DLB groups. Total alpha-synuclein levels were significantly higher in AD patients than in DLB patients. However, the ROC curves show a moderate discriminating power between AD and DLB (AUC = 0.78) which does not improve the discriminating power of the combination of Alzheimer biomarkers (AUC = 0.95 with or without alpha-synuclein). Interestingly, the levels appeared to be altered from the prodromal stage in both AD and DLB. CONCLUSIONS: The modification of total alpha-synuclein levels in the CSF of patients occurs early, from the prodromal stage. The adding of alpha-synuclein total to the combination of Alzheimer's biomarker does not improve the differential diagnosis between AD and DLB. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01876459 (AlphaLewyMa).

The combined effect of amyloid-ß and tau biomarkers on brain atrophy in dementia with Lewy bodies.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology is frequently found in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). However, it is unknown how amyloid-ß and tau-related pathologies influence neurodegeneration in DLB. Understanding the mechanisms underlying brain atrophy in DLB can improve our knowledge about disease progression, differential diagnosis, drug development and testing of anti-amyloid and anti-tau therapies in DLB. OBJECTIVES: We aimed at investigating the combined effect of CSF amyloid-ß42, phosphorylated tau and total tau on regional brain atrophy in DLB in the European DLB (E-DLB) cohort. METHODS: 86 probable DLB patients from the E-DLB cohort with CSF and MRI data were included. Random forest was used to analyze the association of CSF biomarkers (predictors) with visual rating scales for medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), posterior atrophy (PA) and global cortical atrophy scale-frontal subscale (GCA-F) (outcomes), including age, sex, education and disease duration as extra predictors. RESULTS: DLB patients with abnormal MTA scores had abnormal CSF Aß42, shorter disease duration and older age. DLB patients with abnormal PA scores had abnormal levels of CSF Aß42 and p-tau, older age, lower education and shorter disease duration. Abnormal GCA-F scores were associated with lower education, male sex, and older age, but not with any AD-related CSF biomarker. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows preliminary data on the potential combined effect of amyloid-ß and tau-related pathologies on the integrity of posterior brain cortices in DLB patients, whereas only amyloid-ß seems to be related to MTA. Future availability of α-synuclein biomarkers will help us to understand the effect of α-synuclein and AD-related pathologies on brain integrity in DLB.

Environmental exposure to phthalates and dementia with Lewy bodies: contribution of metabolomics.

BACKGROUND: In neurodegenerative diseases, alongside genetic factors, the possible intervention of environmental factors in the pathogenesis is increasingly being considered. In particular, recent evidence suggests the intervention of a pesticide-like xenobiotic in the initiation of disease with Lewy bodies (DLB). OBJECTIVES: To test for the presence of pesticides or other xenobiotics in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with DLB. METHODS: A total of 45 patients were included in this study: 16 patients with DLB at the prodromal stage, 8 patients with DLB at the demented stage, 8 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the prodromal stage and 13 patients with AD at the demented stage. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture and analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Among the compounds detected in greater abundance in the CSF of patients with DLB compared with patients with AD, only one had a xenobiotic profile potentially related to the pathophysiology of DLB. After normalisation and scaling, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was more abundant in the CSF of patients with DLB (whole cohort: 2.7-fold abundant in DLB, p=0.031; patients with dementia: 3.8-fold abundant in DLB, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first reported presence of a phthalate in the CSF of patients with DLB. This molecule, which is widely distributed in the environment and enters the body orally, nasally and transdermally, was first introduced in the 1920s as a plasticizer. Thereafter, the first cases of DLB were described in the 1960s and 1970s. These observations suggest that phthalates may be involved in the pathophysiology of DLB.