CSF Panel Analysis for Diagnosis of Dementia and Parkinsonian Disorders

A panel of five markers was useful in distinguishing among various dementing and parkinsonian diseases in a clinic-based patient sample.

The differentiation of Alzheimer disease, parkinsonian disorders with dementia, and other forms of dementia has proven difficult. To address this diagnostic dilemma, investigators assessed the value of a panel of cerebrospinal fluid markers (CSF) in distinguishing among diagnoses in 346 patients with various dementing disorders and 107 controls (with no parkinsonian or cognitive disorders). The disorders were Parkinson disease (PD), PD with dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Alzheimer disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD).

Primarily in comparison with controls, the investigators found the following differences:

Alpha-synuclein was increased in patie…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)