Product name
Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease and DepressionSummary
combined testing of NGF and NT-3 allows to biochemically differentiate between dementia and major depressionOrganization name
University of BaselProfile
In search of biochemical changes in patients with neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be a useful method.
Neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are members of the family of neurotrophic agents that promote differentiation or support the survival, functioning, maintenance and repair of vertebrate neurons. It is known that patients with acute neuropsychiatric disorders show a higher NGF and/or NT-3 level in the CSF.
Several methods of diagnosing and/or treatment of neurologic disorders have been reported while up to date studies on CSF levels of NT-3 in major depression have not been reported.
Advantages
As Alzheimer´s disease and depression constitute a growing social and medical problem, there is a strong need for ante mortem methods of diagnosing or prognosing said diseases in subjects as well as for methods of treatment.
The measurements of NGF and/or NT-3 in the spinal fluid to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and/or major depression are of high diagnostic accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
Further, the combined testing of NGF and NT-3 allows to biochemically differentiate between dementia and major depression and thus, the methods feature means of monitoring said diseases over a period of time and of gaining insight into the course of either Alzheimer´s disease or major depression.
Application
The inventions feature a method of detecting Alzheimer's disease or major depression in a subject, or whether a subject is at increased risk of developing Alzheimer´s disease or major depression by determining a level and/or an activity of NGF and/or NT-3 in a sample taken from CSF of said subject. The level and/or activity are then compared to a reference value representing a known disease or health status.
Patents have been granted. A license is offered by WTT, the office of technology transfer of the University of Basel.
Contact
Dr. Bruno Dalle Carbonare
bruno.dallecarbonare(at)unibas.ch
About University Basel
The University of Basel was founded in 1460. It is the oldest university in Switzerland. Located in the heart of Basel, and drawing on innovation anchored in tradition, the University of Basel is dynamic and innovative. They offer a broad range of attractive undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, access to reputable international research networks, and provide a wide range of services to students and the community. The University of Basel is committed to providing state-of-the-art education and to facilitating outstanding research. Their key strategic aim is to develop, enhance, and sponsor research which has acknowledged standards of excellence, and to provide an atmosphere and infrastructure commensurate with that objective.
Description File
Proj_Sum_01-32.pdf
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