Friday, 01 November 2013 19:54

ApoE protein as a biomarker for dementia detection Featured

Scientists from Tübingen and Stockholm haven discovered high levels of ApoE protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from dementia. The ApoE protein is associated with a severe course of this disease.

Researchers led by Professor Walter Maetzler and Professor Daniela Berg from the Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, and from the Tübingen site of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, together with the research group of Taher Dara-Shorri at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, determined the high concentration of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients.

The reason for the formation of the ApoE protein is a gene called ApoE4, that can be found in both patients suffering from Lewy body dementia in those suffering from Parkinson's disease. Lewy body dementia is the second most common dementia disease after Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers now want to use the ApoE protein as a biomarker for the early detection of dementia, with an aim to reducing ApoE protein levels at an early stage so as to attenuate the later development of dementia.

Source:
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_gesundheit/weiterer_baustein_demenz_puzzle_entdeckt_222064.html