Serum Biomarkers of Vascular Dysfunction, Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, and Clinical Severity of Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serum biomarkers of vascular dysfunction and neuropsychological performance in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, outpatients with AD who were referred to the Neuropsychiatry Clinic of the Eginition Hospital in Athens from January 2006 to December 2006 were consecutively enrolled. All the participants underwent a neuropsychological assessment. The serum concentrations of Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM- 1), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Lipoprotein-A (LpA), and C-Reactive Protein (CR-P) were determined.

Results: Fifty-six AD patients were enrolled. ApoA1 was correlated with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and AD Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL). Combined biomarkers were correlated with MMSE, Neuropsychiatry Inventory, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, and ADCS-ADL.

Discussion: Our study highlights the association between serum biomarkers of vascular dysfunction- specifically ApoA1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, LpA, and CRP-and the cognitive and behavioral features of Alzheimer's Disease.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that assessing vascular biomarkers may offer valuable insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive and behavioral decline in AD.