Decreased circulating CD34+ stem cells in early Alzheimer's disease: Evidence for a deficient hematopoietic brain support?

ABSTRACT

Hematopoietic stem cells contribute to mammalian brain tissue regeneration by transdifferentiation processes. We found decreased counts of circulating CD34+ cells in early Alzheimer's dementia (AD; P = 0.01), which significantly correlated with age (r = -0.661; P = 0.001), cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid (Abeta)1-42 (r = -0.467; P = 0.025) and most pronounced the Abeta42/40 ratio (r = -0.688; P = 0.005). Our data suggest a deficient regenerative hematopoietic support for the central nervous system in early AD.