Toward a reliable distinction between patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer-Type dementia versus major depression

Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP) and its α-secreted form (α-sAPP) were investigated as a means to distinguish between individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer-type dementia (DAT) and those with major depressive episode (MDE) showing secondary memory deficits. Methods Twenty-seven patients with MCI, 32 with probable DAT, and 24 with MDE attending a memory clinic were studied. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of sAPP/amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) and α-sAPP were detected by Western blotting. Results Patients with MDE had the highest CSF levels of total sAPP/APLP2 as compared with MCI and DAT patients ( p Conclusions Soluble amyloid precursor protein/APLP2 and α-sAPP concentrations in CSF can differentiate between DAT and MCI versus MDE, facilitating early ameliorative interventions and appropriate treatment regimens.