Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by oxidative stress. Products of free radical reactions diffuse from primary sites and can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood.
Such products represent potential biochemical markers for diagnosis of AD. Most studies are focused on CSF since its composition reflects pathological changes in the brain in AD.
Increased levels of lipid and protein oxidative products have been found in CSF. Levels of vitamins were reduced in CSF, however, there are studies which show no difference between AD and controls.
There is research on free radical products in blood in AD but results are not consistent. Several studies show increased oxidative products and reduced antioxidant in plasma.
Nevertheless, others did not confirm it. Considering the investigation of a diagnostic biomarker for AD, specific end-products of lipid peroxidation, so called lipofuscin-like pigments (LFP), in erythrocytes represent an important possibility.
A specific product in blood in AD can be find by means of fluorescence analyses of LFP.