Diagnostic Power of 24S-Hydroxycholesterol in Cerebrospinal Fluid: Candidate Marker of Brain Health

Abstract

We evaluated the diagnostic potential of 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) in cerebrospinal fluid. At a memory clinic, we investigated subjects with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI, n = 33), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients (n = 27), MCI patients with later progression into Alzheimer dementia at follow up (n = 10), and patients with AD (n = 24). We also had a control group of healthy volunteers who did not later develop cognitive problems (n = 13). The fraction of the population with pathological levels of 24OHC was 8% in controls, 34% in SCI, 37% in MCI, 80% in MCI with progression, and 42% in AD. The corresponding fractions for T-tau, P-tau, and Aβ₄₂ were lower in the case of SCI and MCI but higher in the case of controls and AD. In case of MCI with progression, the fraction of pathological levels of 24OHC and Aβ₄₂ were 80% and 63% respectively. We also studied a population of old healthy subjects age 75–99 years (n = 25). The fraction of individuals in this population with pathological levels of 24OHC was 0% whereas the fraction of individuals with pathological level of at least one of the other three biomarkers was 40%. The diagnostic power of 24OHC in cerebrospinal fluid seems to be similar to or lower than that of the established biomarkers T-tau, P-tau, and Aβ₄₂ in the diagnosis of established AD. Our data suggest that 24OHC may be more sensitive than the classical biomarkers in an early phase of the neurodegenerative process and a better marker for “brain health” in old age.