An unusually glycosylated form of acetylcholinesterase is a CSF biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

The identification of a biochemical marker of Alzheimers disease (AD) is a major research aim of many groups. Abnormal levels of tau and A beta have b een identified in the cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) of AD patients, although th e sensitivity and specificity of the changes in these two biomarkers alone is not sufficient to be of diagnostic value. Recently, our group has identi fied an abnormality in the glycosylation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Th e increase in this glycoform of AChE is very specific for Alzheimer's disea se and is not seen in many other neurological diseases including other deme ntias.