Methods of Detecting a Fragment of Neurosecretory Protein VGF for Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

The present invention provides a neurosecretory protein VGF peptide useful in qualifying Alzheimer's disease status in a patient. In particular, this peptide and modified forms thereof may be used to classify a subject sample as Alzheimer's disease or non-Alzheimer's disease. The peptide biomarker can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for implementing a method for determining Alzheimer's disease status of a subject comprising:
 a) program instructions that accesses data attributed to a sample from the subject, the data comprising measurement of VGF peptide-1; and   b) program instructions that executes a classification algorithm that classifies the Alzheimer's disease status of the subject as a function of the measurement.   
     
     
         34 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein the VGF peptide-1 measurement is obtained from an immunoassay. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein the Alzheimer's disease status is selected from presence of Alzheimer's disease and absence of Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 33 , further comprising
 c) program instructions that report the status to the subject or a health care provider.   
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 33 , further comprising
 c) program instructions that record the status on a tangible medium.   
     
     
         45 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions for implementing a method for determining the course of Alzheimer's disease in a subject comprising:
 a) program instructions that accesses data attributed to a first sample from the subject, the data comprising measurement of VGF peptide-1 at a first time point;   b) program instructions that accesses data attributed to a second sample from the subject, the data comprising measurement of VGF peptide-1 at a second time point;   b) program instructions that executes a classification algorithm that classifies the Alzheimer's disease progression of the subject as a function of the first and second measurement.