EDAR - Beta amyloid oligomers in the early diagnosis of AD and as marker for treatment response (Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health) (2007-01-01 - 2009-12-31) (»add to infobox)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, which currently affects 4 million subjects in the European Union. The prevalence of AD is expected to increase substantially the next decades due to the aging population. AD severely affects the quality of life of patients and their relatives. It also poses a major burden to the health care system. Abnormalities in beta amyloid processing are a key feature of the disease. Therapeutic strategies, which modify beta amyloid processing, are currently under development. The development of these drugs, however, is hampered by the lack of accurate diagnostic criteria for AD in the early stage and the lack of potential markers of treatment response. Recent studies indicated that beta amyloid oligomers play an important role in the early pathophysiology of AD. The aim of the present project is to investigate whether beta amyloid oligomers in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and serum can be used for the early diagnosis of AD and whether they can be used as a marker of treatment response. In addition, it will be investigated whether genes known to be involved in beta amyloid processing influence levels of these markers. Oligomers will be measured using two techniques. The first is based on ultrasensitive immuno-polymerase chain reaction and will be developed during the project. The second is based on a combination of immunoprecipitation and ELISA and has already been developed by one of the partners. Measurements will be performed in cerebrospinal fluid, serum, and plasma samples of 100 subjects with AD, 250 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (a prodromal stage of AD), 100 subjects with other types of dementia, and 50 control subjects. In order to investigate the potential of beta amyloid oligomers to be used as marker of treatment response, cerebrospinal fluid samples and blood samples will be collected 9 and 18 months after baseline in 60 subjects with AD and 60 with mild cognitive impairment.'

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