Platelet biomarkers for a descending cognitive function: A proteomic approach.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Proteomics

Background:

• Memory loss is a primary indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Peripheral biomarkers for early AD diagnosis are highly sought after.
• Platelets offer a potential peripheral matrix for neurological disorder biomarkers due to biological similarities with neurons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive platelet proteomic analysis.
• To identify peripheral biomarkers for predicting cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients.
• To evaluate the potential of these biomarkers for early AD screening.

Main Methods:

• TMT-LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis was performed on platelets from MCI, AD, and control groups.
• Differential protein expression was analyzed, and KEGG pathway enrichment was conducted.
• Correlation analysis with MMSE scores, PLS-DA, and machine learning were used to identify predictive biomarkers.

Main Results:

• 360 differential proteins were identified between patient and control groups.
• Key pathways linked to cognitive decline included AD, AMPK signaling, and platelet activation.
• Nine proteins (PHB, UQCRH, CD63, GP1BA, FINC, RAP1A, ITPR1/2, ADAM10) distinguished cognitively impaired individuals.
• A combination of four decreased proteins (PHB, UQCRH, GP1BA, FINC) showed high promise for predicting cognitive decline.

Conclusions:

• Platelet proteomic analysis reveals significant protein changes in MCI and AD patients.
• Specific platelet proteins serve as promising biomarkers for cognitive decline prediction.
• These findings support the use of platelet biomarkers for early Alzheimer's disease screening.