Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid tau/beta-amyloid(42) ratio as diagnostic markers for Alzheimer disease.

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia. Currently, no definitive diagnostic test for AD exists. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of amyloid beta (Abeta1-42) peptides and total tau proteins (T-tau) may serve as biomarkers for AD.

AIM

The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of CSF Abeta1-42 and T-tau analyses in the diagnosis of AD with Tunisians.

METHODS

We focused on three groups originating from Central Tunisian that matched in age (range 48-85): healthy controls (n = 53), AD patients (n = 93) and non-Alzheimer (nAD) dementia (n = 35) patients. Abeta1-42 and T-tau levels were measured in CSF by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The ratio of T-tau/Abeta1-42 at baseline yielded a sensitivity of 85.3% for detection of AD and the specificity was 84.8% to differentiate controls and nAD dementia.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirm the use of T-tau/Abeta1-42 ratio in the discrimination of AD patients from all other patients.