Objective: To identify differential serum metabolites found in AD and PD patients and their correlations to clinical presentation in Egyptian patients.

Background: There is a worldwide increase in life expectancy with an increased prevalence of age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Literature has shown various differential metabolites including amino acids, lipids, and organic acids to be altered in relation to AD and PD and may serve as disease biomarkers that can help early diagnosis and monitor disease progression. While serum metabolomic profiling has been done in other populations, it has never been examined in the Egyptian patients’ demographic.

Method: Serum samples of 31 AD patients, 42 PD patients and 31 matched controls underwent metabolomic profiling using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Participants were also assessed for cognition using the Arabic Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tests, for mood using the Arabic Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and for comorbidity using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. PD patients were also assessed using the International MDS-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ 8) and Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease – Autonomic Dysfunction (SCOPA-AUT).

Results: A total of 31 AD patients (mean age 72.71±7.8) and 42 PD patients (mean age 57.02 ±10) were recruited and compared to 31 controls (mean age 63.55±7.6). The 3 groups were matched in socioeconomic statuses including, education (P=0.051), residential status (P=0.881), smoking status (P=0.075) and medical comorbidities including diabetes (P=0.014), hyperlipidemia (P=0.015) and thyroid disease (P=0.011). Significant P-values were found for PD patients for sex (P=0.002) and hypertension (P=0.001). Metabolomics results will be available in May 2025 and shared at MDS conference, offering insights into the molecular pathways of neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusion: The molecular pathways that underpin neurodegenerative diseases as AD and PD remain elusive. Research into differential serum metabolites in different populations and demographics is warranted to identify disease pathogenesis, disease biomarkers and efficacy of pharmacological therapy on metabolomic profile.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/metabolomics-profiling-in-egyptian-patients-with-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-diseases/