Methods for the diagnosis of dementia and other neurological disorders
Inventors
Cook, Lisa • Goodenowe, Dayan Burke
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8304246-B2
Publication Date
2012-11-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for differentially diagnosing dementia or the risk of dementia in a patient. The method comprises obtaining a sample from the patient; analyzing the sample to obtain quantifying data for one or more than one metabolite marker; comparing the quantifying data for the one or more than one metabolite marker to corresponding data obtained from one or more than one reference sample; and using the comparison to differentially diagnose dementia or the risk of dementia. The method may also assist in assessing dementia or the risk of dementia in a patient. The present invention is also directed to metabolite markers and compounds useful in the present method.
Core Innovation
The disclosure analyzes a blood sample from a living patient by mass spectrometry to obtain quantifying data for one or more metabolite marker molecules selected from plasmenylethanolamine, plasmanylethanolamine, and combinations thereof. The quantifying data are compared to corresponding data obtained for one or more reference samples to identify an increase or decrease in the level of the metabolite marker in the blood sample. The identified increase or decrease is then used for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease health state or change in health state, or for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, dementia, the risk of Alzheimer's disease, or the risk of dementia.
The disclosed framework also evaluates the efficacy of a therapy in a living patient by repeating the mass-spectrometry analysis of a blood sample to quantify the same class of metabolite markers. Quantifying data are compared to corresponding data obtained for one or more reference samples to identify an increase or decrease in marker levels, and the identified increase or decrease is used to determine whether the therapy is improving a biochemical state of the patient.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease health state or change in health state and evaluation of therapy efficacy. Across the independent claims, the inventive features center on quantifying plasmenylethanolamine and/or plasmanylethanolamine metabolite markers in a patient blood sample by mass spectrometry, comparing the quantified data to reference-sample data to identify an increase or decrease, and using that change for the claimed diagnostic or therapeutic decision use.
Mass spectrometry quantification of ethanolamine plasmalogen metabolite markers in blood
Analyzing a blood sample from the patient by mass spectrometry to obtain quantifying data for one or more than one metabolite marker selected from plasmenylethanolamine, plasmanylethanolamine, and combinations thereof.
Reference-sample comparison to identify increase or decrease in marker level
Comparing the quantifying data for the metabolite marker to corresponding data obtained for one or more than one reference sample to identify an increase or decrease in a level of the metabolite marker in the blood sample.
Diagnosis and risk assessment using increase or decrease in marker level
Using the identified increase or decrease in the level of the metabolite marker for diagnosing the patient's Alzheimer's disease health state or change in Alzheimer's disease health state, or for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, dementia, the risk of Alzheimer's disease, or the risk of dementia in the patient.
Therapy efficacy evaluation using marker increase or decrease
Using the increase or decrease in the level of the metabolite marker to determine whether the therapy is improving a biochemical state of the patient.
Claim coverage is anchored in measuring ethanolamine plasmalogen and/or plasmanyl ethanolamine metabolite markers in blood by mass spectrometry, comparing patient quantifying data to reference-sample data to detect increases or decreases, and then using that detected change for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or risk, or for evaluating whether a therapy improves a biochemical state.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Diagnosing a patient's Alzheimer's disease health state or change in health state, or diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, dementia, the risk of Alzheimer's disease, or the risk of dementia in a living patient.
Evaluating the efficacy of a therapy for treating Alzheimer's disease or dementia in a living patient by determining whether the therapy is improving a biochemical state of the patient.
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