Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring blood proteins

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Diagnosis of dementia by measuring proteins in blood

  • IRAS ID

    135942

  • Contact name

    E.B. Mukaetova-Ladinska

  • Contact email

    Elizabeta.Mukaetova-Ladinska@ncl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    NTW NHS Foundation Trust

  • Research summary

    Following the 2 initial phases of the AD biomarker development (both sponsored by Alzheimer Society), we will: (i) expand on our pilot findings of increased APP and immunoglobuln in platelets, and follow them in a further longitudinal study on the elderly with other types of dementia; and (ii) compare these platelet findings to recently reported candidate plasma biomarkers, such as alpha 2 macroglobulin (alpha2M), complement factor H (CFH), clusterin (ApoJ), annexin A5 and amyloid proteins (abeta40 and abeta42). The first part of the study will concentrate on the usefulness of the identified blood (platelet) biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in a clinical setting, and how they are related to those found in plasma. For this, we will determine: usefulness of these biomarkers in monitoring the AD disease process with and without treatment with anti-dementia drugs, and sensitivity and specificity of these blood biomarkers for AD type dementia compared to normal ageing and other dementias (e.g. vascular type dementia and Dementia with Lewy bodies). The clinical data from the patients groups will also enable us to relate the platelet and plasma protein biochemical measures to clinical measures of cognitive, behaviour and mood changes. This, in first instance, will enable us to establish an accurate and highly sensitive and specific test for dementia.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/NE/0239

  • Date of REC Opinion

    11 Dec 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion