Gender Difference of Cerebrospinal Fluid Ceruloplasmin in Mild Cognitive Impairment

AbstractBackgroundThe underlying mechanisms of brain oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, an invariant neurodegenerative features that correlate with cognitive function and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), remains elusive. Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is a protein that intersects these pathways. The role of Cp in AD and its potential use as a biomarker has not been identified. The purpose of the study is to explore the impact of gender on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ceruloplasmin concentrations in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodSeventy‐one males and 33 females with MCI from the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were included in the study. We explored the gender discrepancies in CSF ceruloplasmin levels, volumes of hippocampus, entorhinal cortex (EC), fusiform and medial temporal lobe (MTA).ResultThe results showed that CSF ceruloplasmin levels were significantly higher in males compare to females in MCI patients (P = 0.011). No gender differences were found in CSF Aβ42, CSF Tau and CSF P‐tau (P = 0.496, P = 0.096, P = 0.070). Females showed reduced volumes of the EC, fusiform and MTA (P = 0.010, P < 0.001, P < 0.001) than males. However, volumes of the hippocampus between the males and females in MCI did not differ (P = 0.099).ConclusionThese findings suggest that gender discrepancies should be considered in the interpretation of CSF ceruloplasmin when evaluating MCI.