Case report

NEUROTRANSMITTER MEASURES IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A REVIEW

Dubravka Svob Strac orcid.org/0000-0001-6200-2405 ; Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Dorotea Muck-Seler ; Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Nela Pivac orcid.org/0000-0003-3591-4868 ; Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive and
functional decline, as well as by a variety of neuropsychiatric and psychological symptoms and behavioral dysfunctions. Various
studies proposed the role of different neurotransmitter systems not only in AD-related cognitive, but also psychotic symptoms and
behavioral and emotional deficits. Due to the close proximity, pathological neurochemical changes in brain occurring in AD are
likely to be reflected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the CSF
neurotransmitter correlates of AD in order to get further insights into the potential role of altered neurotransmitters in the
pathophysiology of AD and to offer novel AD biomarkers.
Methods: PubMed and MEDLINE data bases were searched for English-language articles by using "Alzheimer's disease",
"CSF" and "neurotransmitter" as primary terms. No time or article type constraints were applied. Moreover, the lists of references
were searched manually for additional articles.
Results: Changes in various correlates of cholinergic, monoaminergic and amino acid neurotransmitter systems, as well as
neuropeptides, have been observed in CSF of AD patients. However, as the results of these studies have been controversial, the
importance of CSF neurotransmitter parameters as potential biomarkers in AD remains quite unclear. The observed discrepancies
could be bypassed by implementation of new sensitive methods, such as novel proteomics approaches that include protein separation
techniques, mass spectroscopy and targeted multiplex panels of specific analytes.
Conclusion: Although no individual CSF neurotransmitter correlate was demonstrated as suitable biomarker of AD, a combined
profile of several CSF neurochemical parameters might show enhanced sensitivity and specificity and thus contribute to earlier and
more accurate diagnosis of AD, crucial for application of effective treatments.

Keywords

Alzheimer's disease - biomarkers - CSF - neurotransmitters – review

Hrčak ID:

155883

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/155883

Publication date:

9.3.2015.

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