"Prediction of Cognitive Decline in High-Risk Alzheimer's Dementia Groups Using Lipolytic Hormones"

Professor Kim Geun-yu, Department of Psychiatry, Boramae Hospital (from the left), Professor Kim Eo-su, Department of Psychiatry, Sinchon Severance Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] A study has found that using the fat breakdown hormone 'adiponectin' can predict cognitive decline in high-risk groups for Alzheimer's dementia.

A research team led by professors from the Department of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital-operated Seoul Metropolitan Boramae Medical Center and Severance Hospital in Sinchon announced on the 25th that blood levels of adiponectin, a hormone known to aid fat breakdown in the body, can predict cognitive decline in high-risk groups for Alzheimer's dementia.

Adiponectin is a hormone produced and secreted by fat tissue in the body and is involved in glucose and carbohydrate metabolism. It is known to promote glucose absorption in the blood, providing an anti-diabetic effect, and is called the 'fat breakdown hormone' due to its characteristic of helping to break down fat.

The joint research team, including Professor Kim Eo-su from the Department of Psychiatry at Severance Hospital in Sinchon (corresponding author) and Professor Kim Geun-yu from the Department of Psychiatry at Boramae Medical Center (first author), utilized data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) to comprehensively analyze cognitive function assessments (ADAS-Cog), brain MRI, and blood test results of 156 individuals with mild cognitive impairment to find biomarkers that can predict cognitive decline.

The study confirmed a significant association between blood adiponectin levels and cognitive decline in individuals at high risk for Alzheimer's dementia. In multivariate analysis adjusting for confounding factors, higher blood adiponectin levels were associated with faster cognitive decline (p=0.018). This association was significant only in the group classified as amyloid-beta (Aβ) positive based on cerebrospinal fluid tests (n=125). The accumulation of amyloid-beta protein in the brain, diagnosed as positive, is considered to indicate a very high risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia in the future.

Furthermore, among the amyloid-beta positive group, individuals with higher blood adiponectin levels showed atrophy and volume loss in the bilateral hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning. The research team explained that adiponectin levels could be a potential biomarker to predict cognitive decline and progression of Alzheimer's dementia.

Professor Kim Geun-yu, the lead author of the study, stated, "This study is significant in identifying a blood biomarker related to cognitive decline and brain structural changes in individuals with mild cognitive impairment." He added, "Although the exact cause is unknown, it is speculated that adiponectin secreted from fat tissue may interact with amyloid-beta protein, which causes Alzheimer's dementia."

The study results were published this month in the international neuroscience journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.