Visininlike protein 1 (VILIP-1) in cerebrospinal fluid for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Tarawneh et al.2012 report that visininlike protein 1 (VILIP-1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)  may be used as an indicator of ongoing injury to brain cells in patients with Alzheimer's disease. [1]

In very mild cases of the disease prediction of the rate of cognitive decline over roughly 3 years could be made. Levels of VILIP-1 may thus become useful as a marker of neuronal injury, and are being considered by the authors to better than biomarkers such as tau, p-tau, and amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ-42) in predicting rate of decline. This must, however be confirmed with more data.

Cognitive decline progressed more rapidly in individuals with VILIP-1 ≥560 pg/mL than individuals with lower values. The authors concluded that VILIP-1 is similar  to tau and tau/Aβ42 and may become become useful to find  neurodegeneration in early AD.

In an earlier study, the authors pointed to the need of cerebrospinal fluid  markers that can detect Alzheimer's disease pathology before signs of the disease show up and start medication early. In this study the authors found VILIP-1 and VILIP-1/Aβ42 to be useful in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease before cognitive abnormalities arise, similar to tau and tau/Aβ42. [2]

[1] Tarawneh R, Lee JM, Ladenson JH, Morris JC, Holtzman DM: CSF VILIP-1 predicts rates of cognitive decline in early Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2012 Mar 6;78(10):709-19.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22357717

[2] Tarawneh R, D'Angelo G, Macy E, Xiong C, Carter D, Cairns NJ, Fagan AM, Head D, Mintun MA, Ladenson JH, Lee JM, Morris JC, Holtzman DM: Visinin-like protein-1: diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in Alzheimer disease. Ann Neurol. 2011 Aug;70(2):274-85. doi: 10.1002/ana.22448.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21823155