summary
background Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (csf) are being used increasingly to diagnose early Alzheimer’s disease (ad). A csf profile that is suggestive of ad is an abnormal ratio of the proteins Ab1-42 to total tau.
aim To describe the prevalence and prognosis of a csf ad profile in patients without dementia but with subjective memory problems and mild cognitive impairments (mci) at a memory clinic.
method A multi-centre study.
results A European multi-centre study showed that a csf ad profile was often present in patients with subjective complaints and patients with mci. The csf ad profile predicted a decline in cognition and daily functioning over a period of 3 years in patients with mci. Patients with amnestic mci and a csf ad profile developed ad more often within this period than patients without this profile.
conclusion  CSF markers suggestive of ad are common in persons without dementia. It may be possible to use these markers for the prognosis of patients who have mci.

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