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Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) indicating the vascular risk in Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Yusuf Yesil1, Mehmet Emin Kuyumcu, Mustafa Cankurtaran

  • 1Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. dryyesil@gmail.com

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|October 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Higher mean platelet volume (MPV) indicates increased platelet activation and may signal vascular damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study found elevated MPV in AD patients, suggesting a role for platelet activation in AD pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Hematology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Vascular risk factors are implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis.
  • Mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects platelet activation and inflammation, potentially indicating vascular damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between MPV and vascular damage in AD.
  • To determine if MPV can predict vascular damage in AD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 126 AD patients and 286 cognitively normal controls.
  • MPV levels were measured, and cognitive function was assessed using MMSE and CDT.
  • AD diagnosis was confirmed using DSM-IV and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.

Main Results:

  • Patients with AD exhibited significantly higher mean MPV values compared to controls (8.46 ± 1.15 vs. 8.17 ± 0.90, p=0.011).
  • Elevated MPV levels were detected in the AD cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Increased MPV in AD patients suggests a potential role for platelet activation in the vascular underpinnings of the disease.
  • MPV may serve as a potential biomarker for vascular damage in Alzheimer's disease.

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