Relationship between plasma levels of ADAM10 and cognitive performance in cognitively healthy elderly individuals and those with Alzheimer's disease in ACER and CERAD batteries.

• Grant number: 23/14681-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Pelegrini Nogueira de Carvalho
• Grantee: Letícia Fernanda Palma
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/01863-9 - Biology and function of ADAM10 isoforms for differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease by electrochemical sensors, AP.TEM

Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and despite scientific advancements in recent years, challenges such as identifying the etiology and disease-modifying drugs still persist in this field. AD is a neurodegenerative condition that impairs an individual's cognitive, functional, and social functioning, with this impairment progressively worsening as the disease advances. In this context, early diagnosis of the disease is crucial to ensure that available therapeutic resources (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) can be utilized. Thus, imaging and biochemical biomarkers are important tools to contribute both to diagnosis and to monitoring the progression of the condition. However, currently available tests are expensive and invasive, which hampers early diagnosis of the disease and delays the possibility of effective interventions. In this context, ADAM10 emerges as a potential blood biomarker for AD. Previous studies conducted in our group suggest that this protein exhibits altered levels in the plasma of individuals with AD compared to cognitively healthy individuals. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of ADAM10 and the cognitive performance of healthy elderly individuals and those with AD in the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) battery and in the word list of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD). This proposal is related to an innovative project that is linked to the postdoctoral research of the proposing advisor (FAPESP Process No. 2022/15314-0), as well as the ongoing thematic project under the responsibility of the coordinating researcher at LABEN/UFSCar (FAPESP Process No. 2021/01863-9).