Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

An Improved Method for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Anesthetized Mice
Published on: March 19, 2018
CSF prion protein concentration and cognition in patients with Alzheimer disease
Christian Schmidt1, Svetlana Artjomova, Martin Hoeschel
1Clinical Dementia Center, Department of Neurology, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany. cschmid2@gwdg.de
Background/Objective:
PrP (c) has been suggested to play a role in AD pathophysiology. CSF concentrations of PrP (c) have been shown to be reduced in AD compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, serum levels of PrP (c) have recently been reported to be associated with the cognitive status of healthy elderly subjects. Therefore, we hypothesized that CSF levels of PrP (c) could be associated with cognitive function of AD patients at the time of diagnosis.
Methods:
AD patients (n = 114) included into an observational study underwent CERAD testing and lumbar puncture at time of diagnosis / study inclusion. CSF PrP (c) was determined. Generalized linear models were fitted to assess the associations of PrP (c) plus a variety of possible confounding factors and CERAD subscale measures.
Results:
No association of CSF PrP (c) and cognitive status could be established, while other factors (i.e., use of antipsychotic drugs, use of anti-dementia drugs, female sex, pre-progression time) were related to worse cognitive function in some domains.
Conclusion:
CSF PrP (c) appears not to be a useful biochemical surrogate of cognitive status in AD at the time of diagnosis. Follow-up analyses will examine possible associations with the speed of cognitive decline.
More Related Videos
07:08A High Throughput, Multiplexed and Targeted Proteomic CSF Assay to Quantify Neurodegenerative Biomarkers and Apolipoprotein E Isoforms Status
Published on: October 20, 2016
08:08A Technique for Serial Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from the Cisterna Magna in Mouse
Published on: November 10, 2008
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction