Antibodies against phosphorylcholine are not altered in plasma of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND

Phosphorylcholine is one of the major epitopes of oxidised low density lipoprotein. Low levels of IgM antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) are associated with development of myocardial infarction and stroke. It has been shown that patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have significantly lower serum anti-PC levels compared to controls, suggesting that low levels of atheroprotective anti-PC may play a role in AD and dementia.

METHODS

We quantified levels of anti-PC levels using an ELISA in plasma from 176 controls, 125 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 19 patients with vascular dementia and 63 patients with other dementias.

RESULTS

We observed similar plasma anti-PC levels in controls, patients with Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggests that anti-PC is not useful as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.