BIOMARKERS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND VASCULAR DEMENTIA SIMULTANEOUSLY SAMPLED FROM SERUM AND CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease, which is a progressive disease accompanied by behavioral problems and decreased activities of daily living with early cognitive decline, and vascular dementia, which is related to cerebrovascular lesions with gradual, progressive cognitive decline, are common in the elderly. Currently, pathological examination is the gold standard in both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia and studies to elucidate the role of cytokines in their pathophysiology using cerebrospinal fluid and serum biological markers have been intensified. In this study, cerebrospinal fluid and serum biomarker levels from both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia patients were examined. Materials and Method: Thirty patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (Group 1) and vascular dementia (Group 2) were enrolled in this study. Serum interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor--a, and interleukin-6 levels as well as serum and cerebrospinal fluid protein carbonyl, glutathione and beta-amyloid levels from Groups 1 and 2 (N=15 each) patients were compared. Results: Serum interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-a, and beta-amyloid levels as well as serum and cerebrospinal fluid protein carbonyl and glutathione levels were not statistically different (p>0.05) between Group 1 and Group 2. Serum interlukin-6 levels and cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid levels were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, serum interleukin-6 levels were higher, whereas cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid levels were lower, in vascular dementia patients than in Alzheimer's disease patients.