Clinical Validation of Neuronal Pentraxin Receptor as a Candidate Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and loss of independence. Disruption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, depressed amyloid and elevated tau, confers an AD-like pathological profile. Novel biomarkers are needed to capture disease onset at earlier stages, categorize patients, and monitor progression. Previously, targeted proteomics has identified CSF neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR) as depressed in AD patients. The aim of this dissertation is to verify CSF NPTXR as an AD biomarker in independent cohorts. NPTXR levels were measured in CSF using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in three cohorts with participants of: 1) various dementia severities; 2) normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and AD monitored over a 24-month period; 3) preclinical and early AD. NPTXR negatively correlated with disease severity and cognitive function and was associated with core AD biomarkers. Future functional and molecular studies are needed to determine NPTXR’s contribution to AD pathology.M.Sc