New Alzheimer's Biomarker

Researchers found that the best predictor of whether someone would develop Alzheimer’s disease was a combination of cerebrospinal fluid sAPP (soluble amyloid precursor protein ), CSF tau protein (an established marker of brain cell damage) and the age of the individual. When these factors were combined, the results were roughly 80 percent accurate in predicting whether the disease would develop.

The protein amyloid beta1-42, or A1-42, which has previously been considered a CSF biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, was not a predictive factor in this study.

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Traumatic Brain Injury identified by serum Biomarker

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is found in glial cells and is specific to the central nervous system.

Currently the Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) is the primary measure used to assess patients with head injury, but it can be influenced by intoxicants, medicine, other injuries, or hypo perfusion.

Patients in a study at the Orlando Regional Medical center that presented with traumatic brain injury had blood collected within 4 hours of injury.

Early GFAP levels were able to distinguish TBI patients from normal controls and differentiated those with mild TBI (GCS15).

These findings may guide emergency medical physicians in the evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with altered sensorium.