In-depth Analysis of Cholesterol Metabolism and Related Biomarkers in the Pathogenesis and Progression of the Disease in Neurodegenerative Dementias

The project is a monocentric retrospective and prospective low-intervention clinical study. All samples collected will be sent for analysis to the Laboratory of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy.

• Selection and characterization of post-mortem brains Twenty brains from patients with AD (ranging from Braak stage II to VI of neurofibrillary pathology severity), ten brains from patients with FTD/tauopathies, and six brains from FTD/TDP43 patients will be included in the study. These samples are already available for the project and have been neuropathologically characterized by Neurology 5 - Neuropathology Unit.
• Recruitment and follow-up of patients with neurodegenerative dementias

Retrospective study Samples (CSF and plasma) previously collected from patients at Neurology 5 - Neuropathology Unit over the years will be used. The study will include 40 AD patients, 40 FTD patients, and 20 age-matched non-demented controls. Clinical and MRI data will be retrospectively collected, as well as levels of markers of neurodegeneration (tau, Abeta42, and phospho-tau) in CSF.

Longitudinal study During the first 18 months of the project, 30 AD patients, 20 FTD patients, and 10 patients with primary tauopathies (PSP/CBD) will be recruited. A group of 20 age-matched healthy subjects will serve as controls. All patients and controls will undergo a comprehensive neurologic assessment, a neuropsychological evaluation, and a brain MRI with a standard protocol at baseline (T0) and after 1 year (T1). CSF collection will be performed at baseline in patients. DNA and plasma will be collected from controls and patients at baseline and follow-up. Measurements of BMI, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides will be performed at baseline and follow-up in all subjects. ApoE genotype will be analyzed for all subjects to determine E2, E3, and E4 polymorphisms. MRI will be performed on a 3T scanner, including volumetric T1, FLAIR, T2, DWI, and DTI sequences at baseline and follow-up.

• Study of the role of the enzyme PCSK9 in the brain (performed by University of Turin) SK-N-BE cells and mouse-derived primary cortical neurons and astrocytes will be treated with PCSK9 or with an oxysterol mixture obtained from brain dosages.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 40-85
• Diagnosis based on the current diagnostic criteria for AD (McKhann et al., 2011), FTD (Gorno-Tempini et al., 2011; Rascovsky et al., 2011), PSP and CBD (Amstrong et al., 2013; Höglinger et al., 2017)
• Mini Mental State Examination MMSE > 10.

Exclusion criteria

• Other neurological or psychiatric disorders Severe chronic metabolic diseases