Classification and prediction of clinical Alzheimer\u27s diagnosis based on plasma signaling proteins

A molecular test for Alzheimer\u27s disease could lead to better treatment and therapies. We found 18 signaling proteins in blood plasma that can be used to classify blinded samples from Alzheimer\u27s and control subjects with close to 90% accuracy and to identify patients who had mild cognitive impairment that progressed to Alzheimer\u27s disease 2-6 years later. Biological analysis of the 18 proteins points to systemic dysregulation of hematopoiesis, immune responses, apoptosis and neuronal support in presymptomatic Alzheimer\u27s disease. © 2007 Nature Publishing Group