Reduced plasma desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio and longitudinal cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND: We here examined whether plasma desmosterol-to-cholesterol ratio (DES/CHO) is decreased in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and investigated the association between plasma DES/CHO and longitudinal cognitive decline. METHODS: Plasma DES/CHO of AD patients and age-matched controls in a Japanese cross-sectional cohort was determined. Plasma DES/CHO at baseline and follow-up visits was assessed in relation to cognitive decline in Japanese and Swedish longitudinal cohorts. RESULTS: Plasma DES/CHO was significantly reduced in Japanese AD patients and significantly correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The longitudinal analysis revealed that plasma DES/CHO in AD patients shows a significant decrease at follow-up intervals. The decline in plasma DES/CHO is larger in the AD group with rapid progression than in that with slow progression. The changes in plasma DES/CHO significantly correlated with changes in the MMSE score. CONCLUSION: Plasma DES/CHO is decreased in AD patients and may serve as a longitudinal surrogate marker associated with cognitive decline.