Does Caffeine Consumption Modify Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid-beta Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease?

• Caffeine may be protective against Alzheimer's disease (AD) by modulating amyloid-beta (A beta) metabolic pathways. The present work aimed to study a possible association of caffeine consumption with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, particularly A beta. The study included 88 patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment. The consumption of caffeine and theobromine was evaluated using a validated food questionnaire. Quantification of caffeine and main active metabolites was performed with liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of A beta(1-42), total tau, and phosphorylated tau in the CSF were determined using sandwich ELISA methods and other A beta species, A beta(X-38), A beta(X-40), and A beta(X-42), with the MSD A beta Triplex assay. The concentration of caffeine was 0.79 +/- 1.15 mu g/mL in the CSF and 1.20 +/- 1.88 mu g/mL in the plasma. No correlation was found between caffeine consumption and A beta(42) in the CSF. However, a significant positive correlation was found between the concentrations of theobromine, both in the CSF and in the plasma, with A beta(42) in the CSF. Theobromine in the CSF was positively correlated with the levels of other xanthines in the CSF, but not in the plasma, suggesting that it may be formed by central metabolic pathways. In conclusion, caffeine consumption does not modify the levels of CSF biomarkers, and does not require to be controlled for when measuring CSF biomarkers in a clinical setting. Since theobromine is associated with a favorable A beta profile in the CSF, the possibility that it might have a protective role in AD should be further investigated.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease

amyloid-beta

biomarkers

caffeine

cerebrospinal fluid

metabolism

mild

MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

BIOMARKERS

BRAIN

DIAGNOSIS

PLASMA

MICE

MCI

STANDARDIZATION

DEMENTIA

Neurosciences

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)