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Biological Marker Could Differentiate Alzheimer's, Geriatric Depression

Cerebrospinal fluid tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 231 [p-tau(231)] could be a potential biological marker that differentiates geriatric major depression from Alzheimer's disease.

German researchers say that p-tau(231) concentrations are higher in Alzheimer's patients than in geriatric depression patients.

The investigators, from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, report differentiation of the two illnesses has been hampered because of their overlapping symptoms. Increased p-tau(231) has already been suggested as a biomarker for Alzheimer's, they note.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure p-tau(231) concentrations in 34 depressed patients, 64 with probable Alzheimer's, 17 with possible Alzheimer's and 21 healthy controls.

Results indicate p-tau(231) levels were significantly higher in Alzheimer's patients than in either patients with geriatric major depression or in healthy controls.

P-tau(231) correctly allocated 87% of the participants when it was used to differentiate probable Alzheimer's from major depression. When it was used to compare possible mild Alzheimer's to major depression, p-tau(231) correctly allocated 78% of the patients.

"CSF p-tau(231) should be evaluated as a potential biological marker for differentiation of geriatric depression from Alzheimer's disease," the researchers concluded.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 2003;160:2:376-379. "Differentiation of Geriatric Major Depression From Alzheimer's Disease With CSF Tau Protein Phosphorylated at Threonine 231."

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