Abstract
The link between biometals and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been investigated with a focus on local metal accumulations. In this work, we have looked at systemic metal changes and computed a score (M-score) based on metal disarrangements to discriminate patients with AD from patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and from controls. We measured serum levels of iron, copper, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and total antioxidant capacity (TAS), performed Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping and calculated non-ceruloplasmin copper (‘free’ ‘copper’) levels, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, and ceruloplasmin-transferrin ratio (Cp/Tf) in 93 patients with AD, 45 patients with VaD, and 48 controls. All subjects underwent biochemical, neuroimaging and cognitive evaluations. Significant differences were observed among the tested groups for the levels of copper, free copper, peroxides, and TAS and for the Cp/Tf with disparity in couple comparison. On this basis we created the M-score as linear combination of biometal variables and APOE genotype. Besides its ability to discriminate AD patients vs. controls (ROC AUC=90%), M-score was able to distinguish AD vs. VaD (ROC AUC=79%). Moreover, we calculated the sensitivity and the specificity for M-score and for the other significant variables: M-score reached the highest sensitivity without a relevant loss in terms of specificity. When we compared M-score with APOE genotype and Medial Temporal Atrophy score, it resulted statistically better than these diagnostic markers. In conclusion, we confirm the link between biometals and AD and suggest its potential as diagnostic tool. Further studies may elucidate its potential role as reliable diagnostic test.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, metal disarrangements, diagnostic test, statistical score, copper, transferrin, antioxidant capacity, vascular dementia
Current Alzheimer Research
Title:Metal-Score as a Potential Non-Invasive Diagnostic Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
Volume: 10 Issue: 2
Author(s): Rosanna Squitti, Patrizio Pasqualetti, Renato Polimanti, Carlo Salustri, Filomena Moffa, Emanuele Cassetta, Domenico Lupoi, Mariacarla Ventriglia, Maurizio Cortesi, Mariacristina Siotto, Fabrizio Vernieri and Paolo Maria Rossini
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, metal disarrangements, diagnostic test, statistical score, copper, transferrin, antioxidant capacity, vascular dementia
Abstract: The link between biometals and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been investigated with a focus on local metal accumulations. In this work, we have looked at systemic metal changes and computed a score (M-score) based on metal disarrangements to discriminate patients with AD from patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and from controls. We measured serum levels of iron, copper, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and total antioxidant capacity (TAS), performed Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping and calculated non-ceruloplasmin copper (‘free’ ‘copper’) levels, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, and ceruloplasmin-transferrin ratio (Cp/Tf) in 93 patients with AD, 45 patients with VaD, and 48 controls. All subjects underwent biochemical, neuroimaging and cognitive evaluations. Significant differences were observed among the tested groups for the levels of copper, free copper, peroxides, and TAS and for the Cp/Tf with disparity in couple comparison. On this basis we created the M-score as linear combination of biometal variables and APOE genotype. Besides its ability to discriminate AD patients vs. controls (ROC AUC=90%), M-score was able to distinguish AD vs. VaD (ROC AUC=79%). Moreover, we calculated the sensitivity and the specificity for M-score and for the other significant variables: M-score reached the highest sensitivity without a relevant loss in terms of specificity. When we compared M-score with APOE genotype and Medial Temporal Atrophy score, it resulted statistically better than these diagnostic markers. In conclusion, we confirm the link between biometals and AD and suggest its potential as diagnostic tool. Further studies may elucidate its potential role as reliable diagnostic test.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Squitti Rosanna, Pasqualetti Patrizio, Polimanti Renato, Salustri Carlo, Moffa Filomena, Cassetta Emanuele, Lupoi Domenico, Ventriglia Mariacarla, Cortesi Maurizio, Siotto Mariacristina, Vernieri Fabrizio and Maria Rossini Paolo, Metal-Score as a Potential Non-Invasive Diagnostic Test for Alzheimer’s Disease, Current Alzheimer Research 2013; 10 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205011310020009
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205011310020009 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Colloidal Polymeric Nanoparticles and Brain Drug Delivery
Current Drug Delivery Conference Report: 8<sup>th</sup> Clinical Trials on Alzheimer Disease (CTAD), Barcelona, Spain November 5-7, 2015
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Alcohol Drinking, Apolipoprotein Polymorphisms and the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Neurovascular Research Pharmacogenetics in Geriatric Medicine: Challenges and Opportunities for Clinical Practice
Current Drug Metabolism Pain Experience in Dementia Subtypes: A Systematic Review
Current Alzheimer Research Rationally Designed Multi-Targeted Agents Against Neurodegenerative Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Annexin A5 Imaging: An Academic Research – Clinical Trials and Theses
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) HSP27: Mechanisms of Cellular Protection Against Neuronal Injury
Current Molecular Medicine Editorial [Hot Topic: The Pineal Hormone Melatonin in Health and Disease (Guest Editors: Charanjit Kaur)]
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery The Contribution of Cerebral Vascular Neuropathology to Mild Stage of Alzheimer’s Dementia Using the NACC Database
Current Alzheimer Research Copper and Heme-Mediated Abeta Toxicity: Redox Chemistry, Abeta Oxidations and Anti-ROS Compounds
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models in Mitochondrial Diseases
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Subduing the Green-eyed Monster: Bridging the Psychopharmacological and Psychosocial Treatment Perspective in Understanding Pathological Jealousy
Current Drug Targets Brain Arrhythmias Induced by Amyloid Beta and Inflammation: Involvement in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Inflammation-related Pathologies
Current Alzheimer Research Lewy Bodies: A Spectator or Salient Killer?
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Elderly Patients in the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Era
Current Cancer Drug Targets New Promises to Cure Cancer and Other Genetic Diseases/Disorders: Epi-drugs Through Epigenetics
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Alzheimer Disease: What Role for Leptin and Insulin?
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Arterial Wall Structure and Dynamics in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Methodological Aspects and Pathophysiological Findings
Current Diabetes Reviews Platelets in Rheumatic Diseases: Friend or Foe?
Current Pharmaceutical Design