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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Immunophenotypes in the circulation of patients with mild cognitive impairment
Shino Magaki1, Steven M Yellon, Claudius Mueller
1Center for Neurosurgery Research, Coleman Pavilion, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Insights
Peripheral immune system changes, including higher lymphocyte counts and increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression in lymphocytes, are detectable in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These immune alterations may precede Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Peripheral immune system alterations are linked to dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology.
- Early-stage immune changes in cognitive decline remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immune cell phenotype balance in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of memory deterioration.
- To determine if immune parameter changes can be detected before clinical AD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Examined leukocyte subpopulations (lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes) and lymphocyte subtypes in blood from MCI patients and healthy elderly controls.
- Quantified cell surface amyloid precursor protein (APP) and intracellular amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) expression in lymphocytes and monocytes.
Main Results:
- MCI subjects showed a significantly higher percentage of lymphocytes and a lower percentage of granulocytes compared to controls.
- Lymphocyte expression of APP was significantly increased in MCI subjects versus controls.
Conclusions:
- Immune system changes, including altered leukocyte distribution and increased lymphocyte APP expression, are detectable in early MCI.
- These immunological shifts may serve as early indicators preceding the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract:
Alterations in the peripheral immune system are associated with dementia and the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease, but have yet to be studied early in the disease process. To test the hypothesis that the balance of immune cell phenotypes is disrupted in the early progression of memory deterioration, patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy elderly controls were examined for the distribution of subpopulations of leukocytes (lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes) and lymphocyte subtypes (helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes) in blood. MCI subjects had a significantly higher percentage of total lymphocytes and a lower percentage of granulocytes compared to elderly controls. Furthermore, the expression of cell surface amyloid precursor protein (APP) and intracellular amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in lymphocytes and monocytes were determined. We found lymphocyte APP expression to be significantly increased in MCI subjects compared to controls. Our data indicate that changes in immunological parameters may be detected early in MCI, and an alteration of the immune response may precede clinical AD.
