Serum beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) activity as candidate biomarker for late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Geroscience. 2020 Feb;42(1):159-167. doi: 10.1007/s11357-019-00127-6. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Abstract

Beta-secretase (BACE1) is a key enzyme in the formation of amyloid-β; its activity/concentration is increased in brain and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). Since BACE1 was found also in blood, we evaluated its potential as peripheral biomarker. To this aim, serum BACE1 activity was assessed in 115 subjects with LOAD and 151 controls. We found that BACE1 changed across groups (p < 0.001) with a 25% increase in LOAD versus controls. High levels of BACE1 (IV quartile) were independently associated with the diagnosis of LOAD (OR 2.8; 1.4-5.7). Diagnostic accuracy was 76% for LOAD. Our data suggest that increased BACE1 activity in serum may represent a potential biomarker for LOAD. Additional studies are needed to confirm the usefulness of BACE1, alone or in combination with other markers, in discriminating patients and predicting LOAD onset and progression.

Keywords: BACE1; Blood-based biomarkers; Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease; Mild cognitive impairment; Mixed dementia.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / diagnosis
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Biomarkers
  • Humans

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human