Objective To investigate whether neurofilament light polypeptide (NfL) level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), currently a prognostic biomarker of neurodegeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), may be a potential biomarker of cognitive dysfunction in MS. Methods This observational case–control study included patients with MS. CSF levels of NfL were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cognitive function was measured with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) battery and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT3), standardized to the Greek population. Results Of 39 patients enrolled (aged 42.7 ± 13.6 years), 36% were classified as cognitively impaired according to BICAMS z-scores (–0.34 ± 1.13). Relapsing MS was significantly better than progressive forms regarding BICAMS z-score (mean difference [MD] 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54, 2.24), Symbol Digit Modality Test score (MD 1.73; 95% CI 0.46, 3.0) and Greek Verbal Learning Test (MD 1.77; 95% CI 0.82, 2.72). An inversely proportional association between CSF NfL levels and BICAMS z-scores was found in progressive forms of MS (rp = –0.944). Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence for an association between CSF NfL levels and cognition in progressive forms of MS, which requires validation in larger samples.

This study indicates that elevated IgM anti-GM1 may be connected with the neurodegeneration in older patients with severe dementia and that AD may also be associated with increased IgM anti-GD1b levels.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of anti-GM1 in demented patients, correlating them with the type and severity of dementia as well as with the eventually coexistent polyneuropathy. Anti-GM1 concentrations were measured in the sera of 33 demented patients with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.7 (the mean age was 69.7 years for males and 70.1 years for females). Eighty-two percent of the patients revealed increased values of anti-GM1, but only 18.2% demonstrated polyneuropathies. Fifty-nine percent of the patients suffered from vascular dementia. The most severely demented patients demonstrated a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 5 to 23 out of 30 and revealed the most increased levels of anti-GM1 (>40 EU/mL). The findings of this study are indicative of a possible correlation between the levels of anti-GM1 and the severity of dementia, mainly of the vascular type.

Apolipoprotein E is a plasma protein, involved in the transport of lipids and their metabolism. The aim of this investigation was to correlate the ApoE phenotypes with the type and the severity of dementia in Greek demented patients. The investigation revealed that 72% of the patients have the E3/3 phenotype, but only 11% of them demonstrated the E3/2; 13% of the patients have the E4/3 phenotype and only 4% of them demonstrated the phenotype E4/4. The most severely demented patients corresponded to e4 alléle. The present results indicate that the most common ApoE phenotype in Greek demented patients is E3/3.

We examined the sera of 103 demented patients of a mean age of 75 years and 60 age-matched healthy individuals, using ELISA, to investigate the levels of IgM antibodies against GM1, GD1b, and GQ1b gangliosides and their possible correlation with clinical parameters (age, severity, and type of dementia). All the individuals that demonstrated positive titers of anti-ganglioside antibodies were demented patients whereas normal controls showed borderline or negative values. Significant correlation was revealed between IgM anti-GM1 and both the age of the patients and the severity of dementia. Most of the patients with increased IgM anti-GD1b titers suffered from AD.

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We examined the sera of 56 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 44 healthy individuals using ELISA, for investigating the probable correlation between IgM antibodies against GM1, GD1b and GQ1b gangliosides and clinical parameters of MS. Patients revealed pathological concentrations of the examined antibodies, while healthy controls demonstrated normal levels (p=0.0005). A probable correlation between anti-GD1b and anti-GM1 IgM levels with the progression of MS and a positive comparison between the duration and the disability have also been indicated. Further investigation should be established in order to provide insights on the potential autoantigenic role of gangliosides in MS.