Table 1.
Serum levels of proteins involved in amyloid-β clearance and cholesterols in NDC and cognitive impairment
| Clinical characteristics and biomarker | NDC (n = 10) | EMCI (n = 26) | LMCI (n = 23) | AD (n = 4) | P value∗ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 62.6 ± 8.3† | 65.5 ± 10.5 | 69.9 ± 9.6 | 77.0 ± 3.7 | .11499 |
| Male/female | 2/8 | 7/19 | 14/9 | 1/3 | |
| VSRAD score | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 1.1 ± 0.6 | 1.26 ± 0.6 | 2.74 ± 1.1 | |
| MMSE score | 30.0 ± 0.0 | 28.9 ± 1.0 | 27.3 ± 1.6 | 23.4 ± 0.5 | |
| APOE ε4 carrier (%) | 10.0 | 19.2 | 43.5 | 20.0 | |
| aC3, mg/dL | 95.5 ± 17.4 | 101.4 ± 17.4 | 100 ± 14.2 | 115.3 ± 14.0 | .7376 |
| nC3, unit/mL | 1.3 ± 0.3 | 1.2 ± 0.7 | 1.0 ± 0.4 | 1.1 ± 0.4 | .12914 |
| aC3/nC3 ratio | 78.9 ± 21.1 | 106.6 ± 45.2 | 115.97564‡ | 109.6 | .02771 |
| C4, mg/dL | 20 ± 3.0 | 26.6 ± 5.3§ | 26.9 ± 4.9‡ | 27.7 ± 3.0 | .00905 |
| TTR, mg/dL | 22.2 ± 4.1 | 25.1 ± 5.4 | 25.2 ± 6.4 | 23.4 ± 3.9 | .17131 |
| ApoA-I, mg/dL | 170.7 ± 25.6 | 158.5 ± 28.3 | 146.1 ± 23.4‡ | 122.3 ± 16.3 | .05368 |
| ApoE, mg/dL | 3.8 ± 0.5 | 4.5 ± 1.1§ | 3.8 ± 0.5 | 4.3 ± 1.1 | .07568 |
| HDL, mg/dL | 82.3 ± 19.2 | 69.3 ± 16.7 | 56.3 ± 13.9¶ | 40.0 ± 2.0 | .0017 |
| LDL, mg/dL | 116.3 ± 42.0 | 140.4 ± 34.8 | 117.0 ± 19.6¶ | 109.0 ± 16.5 | .0555 |
| TC, mg/dL | 208.0 ± 39.2 | 221.5 ± 30.5 | 189.2 ± 24.3¶ | 182.3 ± 23.3 | .00664 |
| TG, mg/dL | 100.3 ± 38.6 | 133.6 ± 68.6 | 151.9 ± 70.9 | 246.0 ± 112.7 | .29456 |
| BS, mg/dL | 129.9 ± 53.8 | 113.5 ± 23.9 | 118.0 ± 34.3 | 121.8 ± 33.6 | .73745 |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.8 ± 0.7 | 5.7 ± 0.5 | 5.8 ± 0.6 | 5.7 ± 0.7 | .80727 |
| Triple-marker sore (ApoA-I, TTR, nC3) | 0.47 ± 0.20 | 0.63 ± 0.29§ | 0.80 ± 0.23‡ | 0.90 ± 0.23 | .00418 |
| Triple-marker sore (ApoA-I, TTR, aC3/nC3) | 0.46 ± 0.18 | 0.68 ± 0.27§ | 0.80 ± 0.23‡ | 0.91 ± 0.23 | .00226 |
Abbreviations: VSRAD, voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer's disease; nC3, native form of C3; aC3, active form of C3; TTR, transthyretin; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; BS, blood sugar; EMCI, early mild cognitive impairment; LMCI, late mild cognitive impairment; NDC, nondemented disease control; AD, Alzheimer's disease.
Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant differences among 3 groups NDC, EMCI, and LMCI are indicated.
Mean ± SD.
Holm-Bonferroni test. Significant differences in NDC vs. LMCI were observed in aC3/nC3 ratio (P = .01714), C4 (P = .00408), apoA-I (P = .01576), HDL (P = 9.6E-04), triple-marker score (ApoA-I, TTR, nC3) (P = 1.0E-04), and triple-marker score (ApoA-I, TTR, aC3/nC3) (P = 3.9E-04).
Holm-Bonferroni test. Significant differences in NDC vs. EMCI were observed in C4 (P = .00585), apoE (P = .01841), triple-marker score (ApoA-I, TTR, nC3) (P = .02672), and triple-marker score (ApoA-I, TTR, aC3/nC3) (P = .01417).
Holm-Bonferroni test. Significant differences in EMCI vs. LMCI were observed in HDL (P = .01311), LDL (P = .01737), and TC (P = .00106).