Objective:

To evaluate the potential of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) levels as a biomarker for diagnosing Lewy body disorders.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• CSF DDC concentrations were higher in Lewy body disorders compared to controls and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Models incorporating CSF DDC, age, and sex showed strong diagnostic performance for distinguishing Lewy body disorders.
• Plasma DDC showed no diagnostic value across diagnostic groups.
• Higher CSF DDC levels were associated with specific clinical features of dementia with Lewy bodies, such as parkinsonian symptoms and visual hallucinations.
• CSF DDC levels correlated with measures of Lewy body pathology, indicating disease-related changes.

Interpretation:

Elevated CSF DDC levels may reflect dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction and could serve as a supportive biomarker for diagnosing Lewy body disorders.

Limitations:

• Further studies are needed to evaluate performance in broader and longitudinal patient populations.
• The precise mechanism linking elevated DDC levels to disease remains uncertain.

Conclusion:

CSF DDC may aid in the diagnosis and biological characterization of Lewy body disorders, but additional research is required.

Sources:

• Nature Medicine
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