CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE ANDVASCULAR DEMENTIA

Levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a glycolytic enzyme localized in neurons, were measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of p atients with early-onset (e-AD) and late-onset (1-AD) Alzheimer's dise ase, vascular dementia (VD) and controls. Mean CSF NSE levels in patie nts with Alzheimer's disease did not significantly differ from those i n controls, although in the AD group a correlation was found between N SE levels and severity of cognitive deficits. In VD patients, CSF NSE was lower than in controls or in AD patients. These findings are of ph ysiopathological interest but suggest that CSF NSE is not a useful bio logical marker in dementia disorders.