CEREBROSPINAL PROTEIN-TAU IS ELEVATED IN EARLY ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Protein tau concentration was determined by an enzyme linked immunoass ay (ELISA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 22 patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (AD), in three patients with dementia c aused by other neurological disorders (OND) and in 19 cognitively heal thy controls. A significantly elevated protein tau concentration was f ound in AD patients as compared with controls, even in 11 patients wit h very mild dementia. There was no correlation between protein tau and the severity of cognitive impairment as assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Tau concentrations were not or only slightl y elevated in OND. We conclude that protein tau in CSF might be helpfu l as a biological marker for the early diagnosis of AD.