Levels of two proteins, tau and beta-amyloid 42, that can be detected in spinal fluid may help doctors predict which patients with mild cognitive impairment are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Researchers reported in the Archives of Neurology on a study of 28 patients in which they investigated the potential of spinal fluid tau and beta-amyloid 42 proteins for predicting progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease.

Of the 28 participants with mild cognitive impairment, 12 progressed to dementia, ten of which progressed to Alzheimer's disease. Six subjects had progressive mild cognitive impairment and 10 subjects had stable mild cognitive impairment.

Spinal fluid tau levels were significantly elevated in patients who progressed to probable Alzheimer's disease and subjects with progressive mild cognitive impairment compared to subjects who had stable mild cognitive impairment.

Spinal fluid levels of beta-amyloid 42 were significantly lower in patients who progressed to probable Alzheimer's disease and those with progressive mild cognitive impairment than in subjects with stable mild cognitive impairment.

"Our results indicate that altered tau and beta-amyloid 42 concentrations may be detectable in subjects who are clinically diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment but demonstrate the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Archives of Neurology