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A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Processing of the platelet amyloid precursor protein in the mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Paloma Bermejo-Bescós1, Sagrario Martín-Aragón, Karim Jiménez-Aliaga
1Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain. bescos@farm.ucm.es
Abstract:
It has been suggested that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients deteriorate faster than the healthy elderly population and have an increased risk of developing dementia. Certain blood molecular biomarkers have been identified as prognostic markers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study was aimed to assess the status of the platelet amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism in MCI and AD subjects and establish to what extent any variation could have a prognostic value suggestive of predictive AD in MCI patients. Thirty-four subjects diagnosed with MCI and 45 subjects with AD were compared to 28 healthy elderly individuals for assessing for protein levels of APP, β-APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), presenilin 1 (PS1) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-10 (ADAM-10) by western blot, and for the enzyme activities of BACE1 and γ-secretase by using specific fluorogenic substrates, in samples of platelets. A similar pattern in the healthy elderly and MCI patients was found for BACE1 and PS1 levels. A reduction of APP levels in MCI and AD patients compared with healthy elderly individuals was found. Augmented levels of ADAM-10 in both MCI and AD were displayed in comparison with age-matched control subjects. The ratio ADAM-10/BACE1 was higher for the MCI group versus AD group. Whereas BACE1 and PS1 levels were only increased in AD regarding to controls, BACE1 and γ-secretase activities augmented significantly in both MCI and AD groups. Finally, differences and similarities between MCI and AD patients were observed in several markers of platelet APP processing. Larger sample sets from diverse populations need to be analyzed to define a signature for the presence of MCI or AD pathology and to early detect AD at the MCI stage.
Insights
Platelet amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism markers show distinct patterns in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, offering potential for early AD detection at the MCI stage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Gerontology
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients exhibit faster cognitive decline and increased dementia risk.
- Blood molecular biomarkers are crucial for prognostic assessment in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate platelet amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism in MCI and AD patients.
- To determine the prognostic value of APP metabolism variations for predicting AD in MCI patients.
Main Methods:
- Western blot analysis of APP, BACE1, PS1, and ADAM-10 protein levels in platelets.
- Assay of BACE1 and γ-secretase enzyme activities in platelet samples.
- Comparison of healthy elderly, MCI, and AD patient groups.
Main Results:
- Reduced APP levels in MCI and AD patients compared to controls.
- Increased ADAM-10 levels in both MCI and AD groups.
- Elevated BACE1 and γ-secretase activities in both MCI and AD groups, with higher ADAM-10/BACE1 ratio in MCI vs. AD.
Conclusions:
- Platelet APP processing markers show both similarities and differences between MCI and AD.
- Further research with larger, diverse cohorts is needed to establish a diagnostic signature for early AD detection in MCI.
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