Exploration of predictive urinary biomarkers for dementia using urine proteomics in a longitudinal setting.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K10427
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58020:Hygiene and public health-related: including laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Yumi 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 准教授 (50325479)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 平尾 嘉利 新潟大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 客員研究員 (10647613) ; 北村 香織 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 助教 (80468975)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 尿バイオマーカー / プロテオミクス / アルツハイマー病 / 認知症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study participants were those who participated in two surveys of cognitive performance using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) over a period of approximately five years and whose urine samples were collected at both surveys. Mass spectrometry analysis was used to comprehensively compare the urinary proteome of the seven participants whose MMSE scores declined significantly (by 4 or more points) over the 5-year period with that of the seven sex- and age-matched participants whose MMSE scores remained in the normal range (28-30 points). The mean ages were 71.3 and 71.9 years, respectively, and there were four males in each group. The results showed that the levels of the three inflammation-related proteins in the urine of these 14 subjects were correctly determined in 6 out of 7 (85%) in both groups.

Free Research Field

疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

認知症はものわすれなどの症状が現れる10年以上前から脳の変化が始まっていると示唆されている。現在のところ、根治的な治療法はないが、生活習慣の改善などで発症を遅らせることができる可能性がある。そのため認知症のリスクが高い人を容易に特定できる非侵襲的で簡便な方法が必要とされている。本研究は簡単に採取できる尿を用いて近い将来の認知機能低下を予測できる可能性を示唆した。簡単に受検可能な認知症予測検査の開発は認知症の高リスク者への、より効果的な予防的アプローチを可能にする。