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CSF GAP-43 as a biomarker of synaptic dysfunction is associated with tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease
Qiang Q, Skudder-Hill L, Toyota T, Wei W, Adachi H.. Scientific reports, 2022-10-17
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
To test whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) concentration is elevated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and its associations with other hallmarks of AD, we examined the CSF GAP-43 measurements of 787 participants (245 cognitively normal (CN), 415 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 127 individuals with AD dementia) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study. Associations were investigated between CSF GAP-43 and clinical diagnosis, Aβ/tau/neurodegeneration (AT(N)) status, CSF and blood biomarkers of AD, cognitive measurements and brain neuroimaging findings. CSF GAP-43 levels were increased in patients with AD dementia (mean, 6331.05 pg/ml) compared with the CN (mean, 5001.05 pg/ml) and MCI (mean, 5118.8 pg/ml) (P < 0.001) groups.
Key findings
- Associations were investigated between CSF GAP-43 and clinical diagnosis, Aβ/tau/neurodegeneration (AT(N)) status, CSF and blood biomarkers of AD, cognitive measurements and brain neuroimaging findings.
- CSF GAP-43 levels were increased in patients with AD dementia (mean, 6331.05 pg/ml) compared with the CN (mean, 5001.05 pg/ml) and MCI (mean, 5118.8 pg/ml) (P < 0.001) groups.
- CSF GAP-43 correlated with CSF phosphorylated tau 181(p-tau) (r = 0.768, P < 0.001), and had high diagnostic accuracy in differentiating tau positive status vs. tau negative status (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.8606).
- CSF GAP-43 was particularly elevated among individuals with tau positive status.
Why it matters
This study found that a protein called GAP-43 in spinal fluid was higher in people with Alzheimer's dementia and was linked to tau pathology. It is about a potential biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring, not a treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants787
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 787 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 41 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.8 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 32 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Hiroaki Adachi: h-index 47 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Tsinghua University: institution h-index 1,218 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36253408) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20324-2
- PubMed: 36253408
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Qiang, Q., Skudder-Hill, L., Toyota, T., Wei, W., & Adachi, H. (2022). CSF GAP-43 as a biomarker of synaptic dysfunction is associated with tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20324-2
Vancouver
Qiang Q, Skudder-Hill L, Toyota T, Wei W, Adachi H. CSF GAP-43 as a biomarker of synaptic dysfunction is associated with tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Scientific reports. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-20324-2. PMID: 36253408.
BibTeX
@article{qiang2022-36253408,
author = {Qiang, Q. and Skudder-Hill, L. and Toyota, T. and Wei, W. and Adachi, H.},
title = {{CSF GAP-43 as a biomarker of synaptic dysfunction is associated with tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-20324-2},
pmid = {36253408},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20324-2}
}
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