Meta-Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Blood of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia

Background: Dementia is a major public health concern affecting approximately 47 million people worldwide. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is one form of dementia that affects an individual’s memory with or without affecting their daily life. Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD) is a more severe form of dementia that usually affects elderly individuals. It remains unclear whether MCI is a distinct disorder from or an early stage of ADD. Methods: Gene expression data from blood were analyzed to identify potential biomarkers that may be useful for distinguishing between these two forms of dementia. Results: A meta-analysis revealed 91 genes dysregulated in individuals with MCI and 387 genes dysregulated in ADD. Pathway analysis identified seven pathways shared between MCI and ADD and nine ADD-specific pathways. Fifteen transcription factors were associated with MCI and ADD, whereas seven transcription factors were specific for ADD. Mir-335-5p was specific for ADD, suggesting that it may be useful as a biomarker. Diseases that are associated with MCI and ADD included developmental delays, cognition impairment, and movement disorders. Conclusion: These results provide a better molecular understanding of peripheral changes that occur in MCI and ADD patients and may be useful in the identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.