Elevated CSF GAP-43 is Alzheimer's disease specific and associated with tau and amyloid pathology

Introduction: The level of the presynaptic protein growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has previously been shown to be increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and thus may serve as an outcome measure in clinical trials and facilitate earlier disease detection. / Methods: We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for CSF GAP-43 and measured healthy controls (n = 43), patients with AD (n = 275), or patients with other neurodegenerative diseases (n = 344). In a subpopulation (n = 93), CSF GAP-43 concentrations from neuropathologically confirmed cases were related to Aβ plaques, tau, α-synuclein, and TDP-43 pathologies. / Results: GAP-43 was significantly increased in AD compared to controls and most neurodegenerative diseases and correlated with the magnitude of neurofibrillary tangles and Aβ plaques in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cortex. GAP-43 was not associated to α-synuclein or TDP-43 pathology. / Discussion: The presynaptic marker GAP-43 is associated with both diagnosis and neuropathology of AD and thus may be useful as a sensitive and specific biomarker for clinical research