Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait: an exploratory analysis

• Authors: Jaime Hatcher-Martin, Emory University; Johnathan McKay, Emory University; AF Pybus, Georgia Tech; B Sommerfeld, Emory University; JC Howell, Neurology Consultants of Dallas; Felicia Goldstein, Emory University; L Wood, Georgia Tech; William Hu, Emory University; Stewart Factor, Emory University
• Journal Title: NPJ PARKINSONS DISEASE
• Volume: Volume 7, Number 1
• Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO | 2021-11-29, Pages 105-105
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00247-x
• Subjects: Engineering, Mechanical; Engineering, Biomedical; Biology, Neuroscience
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Neurosciences; Neurosciences & Neurology; ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE; BETA LEVELS; CSF; A-BETA(42); ASSOCIATION; P-TAU(181); SUBTYPES; SLEEP; FALLS; LIFE

Abstract

We explore the association between three Alzheimer’s disease-related and ten inflammation-related CSF markers and freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The study population includes PD patients with FOG (PD-FOG, N = 12), without FOG (PD-NoFOG, N = 19), and healthy controls (HC, N = 12). Age and PD duration are not significantly different between groups. After adjusting for covariates and multiple comparisons, the anti-inflammatory marker, fractalkine, is significantly decreased in the PD groups compared to HC (P = 0.002), and further decreased in PD-FOG compared to PD-NoFOG (P = 0.007). The Alzheimer’s disease-related protein, Aβ42, is increased in PD-FOG compared to PD-NoFOG and HC (P = 0.001). Group differences obtained in individual biomarker analyses are confirmed with multivariate discriminant partial least squares regression (P < 0.001). High levels of Aβ42 in PD-FOG patients supports an increase over time from early to advanced state. Low levels of fractalkine might suggest anti-inflammatory effect. These findings warrant replication.