Comparative Analysis of Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Markers, and Neurotrophic Factors in Healthy Controls, Vascular Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Dementia
Halil Aziz Velioğlu1, Eray Metin Güler21Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Türkiye2Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye; Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpasa Numune Health Application and Research Center, Istanbul, Türkiye
INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition, with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) being the two most common subtypes. Despite shared cognitive symptoms, AD and VD have distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, necessitating different approaches for diagnosis and treatment. This study investigates oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and neurotrophic factors to identify biomarkers that may differentiate VD from AD, supporting more accurate diagnosis and targeted therapies.
METHODS: A total of 45 participants were grouped into healthy controls (HC), VD, and AD. Serum samples were analyzed for oxidative stress markers (TAS, TOS, OSI), thiol-disulfide balance, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and neurotrophic factors (GDNF). The data were statistically evaluated to compare biomarker profiles across groups and identify significant variations.
RESULTS: AD patients exhibited significantly elevated oxidative stress markers (TOS and OSI) and disrupted thiol-disulfide homeostasis compared to VD and HC, suggesting a pronounced oxidative imbalance. Additionally, inflammatory markers (IL-1β and TNF-α) were highest in AD, indicating a heightened neuroinflammatory response relative to VD. GDNF levels were elevated in both AD and VD compared to HC, suggesting a potential compensatory neuroprotective response, although levels were higher in VD.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings highlight oxidative stress and neuroinflammation as prominent features of AD, with VD displaying relatively lower oxidative markers. Elevated GDNF in both dementia types suggests that neurotrophic support mechanisms may play a role in counteracting neurodegeneration. Differences in thiol-disulfide balance and inflammatory cytokines between VD and AD may also reveal disease-specific mechanisms that could aid in differential diagnosis. This study identifies distinct biomarker profiles in AD and VD, emphasizing the potential for specific oxidative and inflammatory markers to differentiate these conditions. Further research may validate these findings and contribute to developing targeted therapeutic interventions for each dementia subtype.
Manuscript Language: English