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Abstract
Serum or plasma progranulin (GRN) is a highly accurate predictor of GRN-related frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the GRN gene. Both null mutations and missense mutations in GRN have also been observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Here, the evidence for a role of circulating GRN as a biochemical biomarker in neurodegeneration is reviewed, with a specific focus on its relevance in Alzheimer's disease. We conclude that circulating GRN is a promising, nonintrusive biomarker that warrants screening in both patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and people with mild cognitive impairment; specifically for, but not limited to, those that have a positive family history of neurodegenerative disease. Once a cure for GRN-related neurodegeneration becomes available, this biomarker will be an important tool in the effort to personalize treatment of dementia.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
Research in the authors’ research group was funded in part by the Special Research Fund of the University of Antwerp, the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO-V), the Interuniversity Attraction Poles program (IAP) P6/43 of the Belgian Science Policy Office, the Medical Foundation Queen Elisabeth, the Foundation for Alzheimer Research (SAO/FRMA), a Zenith award from the Alzheimer's Association USA to C Van Broeckhoven, the Santkin award from the National Alzheimer League Belgium to Sleegers and a Methusalem Excellence Grant of the Flemish Government, Flanders, Belgium. N Brouwers and K Sleegers are postdoctoral fellows of the FWO-V. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.