Correlation between neurodegeneration biomarkers and brain volume in dementia patients

Aim: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid aggregates in the brain. It is a chronic, progressive process of cognitive impairment in which episodic memory is impaired in the foreground. The contribution of neuronal damage and neuroinflammation to this process has been investigated by measuring various substances. Two of the most promising substances in serum and plasma studies are visinin-like protein 1(VILIP-1) and tyrosine(Y), lysine(K), leucine(L)-40 (YKL-40). These markers may lead to early diagnosis and new treatment options. Material and method: VILIP-1 and YKL-40 were analysed from serum samples of participants and volumetric measurements were made from cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The results were compared with the control group and then the correlation analyse between markers and volumetric measurements of the patient group was achieved. Results: 33 AD patients and 23 healthy controls were included in the study. The patient and control groups were similar in terms of age and gender. There was no significant difference between the serum levels of YKL-40 and VILIP-1 in the patient and healthy groups. Right and left hippocampus, right and left amygdala, left medial temporal, right rostral anterior cingulate, total brain, total cortex, total white matter, total grey matter, total subcortical grey matter, right and left total cortex volumes of the AD group were significantly lower than the control group. In correlation analysis, YKL-40 level with left posterior cingulate volume and VILIP-1 level with left amygdala volume were negatively correlated. Conclusion: In AD, there is atrophy of the limbic structures, cortex and white matter. Although the relationship between these regions and certain neurodegenerative markers is not clear; in this research ,the relationship between the left amygdala and left posterior cingulate cortex with YKL-40 and VILIP-1 was the outstanding result.