CSF α-Synuclein Seed Amplification Assays and Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers in Dementia With Lewy Bodies: Presentation and Progression.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

α-Synuclein (αSyn) seed amplification assays (SAAs) accurately detect αSyn pathology in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Alzheimer disease (AD) copathology occurs in ∼70% of patients with DLB at autopsy. The association of different αSyn-SAA and AD biomarker profiles with clinical outcomes in DLB can aid prognostication and inform clinical trial design.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of participants in the DLB Consortium (DLBC) study. The DLBC is a multicentered prospective longitudinal cohort study with participants recruited at tertiary care centers in the United States. CSF samples obtained within 1 year of baseline assessments were analyzed using αSyn-SAA and for β-amyloid (Aβ) 42/40, phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 181, and total tau (t-tau). Comparisons of baseline prevalence and degree of core DLB features, cognitive impairment, and hyposmia in participants with different CSF profiles were performed (AD-: normal Aβ42/40, p-tau181, and t-tau. AD+: Aβ42/40 abnormal, ±p-tau181, ±t-tau. Other non-AD: normal Aβ42/40 but elevated p-tau181 or t-tau levels). Longitudinal cognitive and motor declines were assessed in participants with different CSF profiles using linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine participants had CSF αSyn-SAA and AD biomarkers available for analysis (mean age 69.8 ± 6.6, 15% female); 68% (67/99) were αSyn-SAA+. αSyn-SAA+ participants had lower baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores (19.0 ± 5.8 vs 21.6 ± 4.7, p = 0.03) and worse motor parkinsonism (Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [MDS-UPDRS] part-III 32.3 ± 15.8 vs 22.1 ± 14.4, p = 0.003) and were more likely to be hyposmic (87% [46/53] vs 37% [10/27], p < 0.0001). αSyn-SAA+ participants had more progressive parkinsonism than αSyn-SAA- participants (MDS-UPDRS part-III: 3.70 points per year [95% CI 2.60-4.80] vs 0.47 points per year [95% CI -0.25 to 1.19], p < 0.0001). Of αSyn-SAA+ participants, 39% (26/67) were AD- and 52% (35/67) were AD+. αSyn-SAA+AD+ participants had greater declines in MoCA scores than αSyn-SAA+AD- participants (-3.24 points per year [95% CI -4.12 to -2.36] vs -1.19 points per year [95% CI -1.72 to -0.65], p < 0.0001). MDS-UPDRS part-I and part-II subscores increased more in αSyn-SAA+AD+ participants than in αSyn-SAA+AD- participants (2.72 points per year [95% CI 1.70-3.73] vs 1.21 points per year [95% CI 0.48-1.94], p = 0.03 and 4.60 points per year [95% CI 3.40-5.80] vs 1.93 points per year [95% CI 1.19-2.66], p < 0.001, respectively).

DISCUSSION: In this well-characterized cohort of participants with clinically diagnosed DLB, αSyn-SAA positivity is associated with greater motor decline. AD copathology is common and confers additional risk of cognitive and functional decline.