Alzheimer's Disease Assay in a Living Patient

Abstract

An assay for Alzheimer's disease pathology (AD) in a living patient is disclosed wherein an amount of α7nAChR or TLR4 in a FLNA-captured protein complex or α7nAChR in an Aβ-captured protein complex or α7nAChR-FLNA, TLR4-FLNA and/or α7nAChR-Aβ42 complex present as a protein-protein complex in a sample is determined and compared to the amount in a standard sample from a person free of AD pathology. An amount greater than in the standard sample indicates AD pathology. Also disclosed is an assay predictive of prognosis for treatment with a medicament in which the amount of an above protein or protein complex is determined and compared to an amount determined in the presence of a medicament that binds to a FLNA pentapeptide and contains at least four of the six pharmacophores of FIGS. 7-12. An amount of protein or protein complex determined in the presence of the medicament less than the first determined amount indicates a favorable treatment prognosis.

1 . A method for determining the likelihood of a living patient having Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology comprising the steps:
 a) determining the amount of α7nAChR or TLR4 in a FLNA-captured protein complex or α7nAChR in an Aβ-captured protein complex or of one or more of a protein-protein complex i) α7nAChR/FLNA, ii) TLR4/FLNA and iii) α7nAChR/Aβ present in a body sample preparation from a living patient to be assayed for AD pathology; and   b) comparing that determined amount with the amount of the same protein or protein ratio established in a standard body sample preparation from a person free of AD symptoms,   wherein a determined value that is significantly greater than the value present in the standard body sample preparation indicates the presence of AD pathology.