Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired glucose regulation.
You definitely want to assess for oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and GGT which facilitates glutathione metabolism.
- Albumin
- Bilirubin
- Cholesterol, total, and LDL
- Copper, ceruloplasmin
- Ferritin
- Globulin, total
- Glucose regulation markers
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
- Lymphocytes
- Malondialdehyde
- Platelets
- Uric acid
- Vitamins A, C, E, alpha and beta-carotene
Schrag, M et al. “Oxidative stress in blood in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis.” Neurobiology of disease vol. 59 (2013): 100-10. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2013.07.005
Evaluation of inflammation would be prudent as well given its association with Alzheimer’s and should include the basics not already included in the above recommendation:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Ferritin
- Fibrinogen
- Homocysteine
- hs-CRP, CRP (though CRP can increase, decrease, or be unchanged in AD)
- LDH
- TNF-alpha
- Vitamin D
Additional research suggests an association between mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer’s and
- apoE
- BNP
- Cortisol
- CRP
- IL-3
- Pancreatic polypeptide
Hu, William T et al. “Plasma multianalyte profiling in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease.” Neurology vol. 79,9 (2012): 897-905. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e318266fa70
Anemia is also a common finding in AD so be sure to assess the following:
- Ferritin (though may be high in AD due to tissue accumulation)
- Iron, serum
- Hematocrit
- Hemoglobin
- Packed cell volume (PCV)
- Red blood cell folate
- Transferrin, transferrin saturation
Faux, N G et al. “An anemia of Alzheimer's disease.” Molecular psychiatry vol. 19,11 (2014): 1227-34. doi:10.1038/mp.2013.178
An anti-inflammatory diet high in antioxidants and moderate in carbohydrates can be beneficial. Curcumin may be especially beneficial (black pepper/bioperine may increase bioavailability). Medium-chain triglycerides and ketone monoesters may also be beneficial supplements as they provide energy to the brain.
Newport, Mary T et al. “A new way to produce hyperketonemia: use of ketone ester in a case of Alzheimer's disease.” Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association vol. 11,1 (2015): 99-103. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.006
Reddy, P Hemachandra et al. “Protective Effects of Indian Spice Curcumin Against Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's Disease.” Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD vol. 61,3 (2018): 843-866. doi:10.3233/JAD-170512
Also, researchers note a strong association between Alzheimer’s and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) and associated testing may be prudent.
Itzhaki, Ruth F. “Corroboration of a Major Role for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Alzheimer's Disease.” Frontiers in aging neuroscience vol. 10 324. 19 Oct. 2018, doi:10.3389/fnagi.2018.00324
Additional References
Faux, N G et al. “An anemia of Alzheimer's disease.” Molecular psychiatry vol. 19,11 (2014): 1227-34. doi:10.1038/mp.2013.178
Hu, William T et al. “Plasma multianalyte profiling in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease.” Neurology vol. 79,9 (2012): 897-905. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e318266fa70
Itzhaki, Ruth F. “Corroboration of a Major Role for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Alzheimer's Disease.” Frontiers in aging neuroscience vol. 10 324. 19 Oct. 2018, doi:10.3389/fnagi.2018.00324
Newport, Mary T et al. “A new way to produce hyperketonemia: use of ketone ester in a case of Alzheimer's disease.” Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association vol. 11,1 (2015): 99-103. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.006
Reddy, P Hemachandra et al. “Protective Effects of Indian Spice Curcumin Against Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's Disease.” Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD vol. 61,3 (2018): 843-866. doi:10.3233/JAD-170512
Schrag, M et al. “Oxidative stress in blood in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis.” Neurobiology of disease vol. 59 (2013): 100-10. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2013.07.005