ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value of urine formaldehyde test in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD),and the influential factors of urine formaldehyde level in AD patients.Methods A total of 52 AD patients and 53 cognitively normal controls were recruited in a cohort study.All subjects were no less than 65 years old,and those with acute infection,or dysfunction in heart,liver or kidneys were excluded.The impact of age,gender,onset age,MMSE score,NPI score,MTA score,and ApoE ε4 gene on urine formaldehyde of AD patients were analyzed by multiple regression analysis.Results Urine formaldehyde level of AD group was statistically higher than that of cognitively normal control group ((13.27±4.16)μmol/L vs (10.76±4.47)μmol/L,t=2.99,P=0.15).Urine formaldehyde of AD patients was statistically negatively correlated with MMSE score (β=-0.35,P=0.03) and MTA score (β=-0.38,P=0.02).The impact of onset age,neuropsychiatric disorders and ApoE ε4 gene on urine formaldehyde of AD patients was not statistically significant(all P>0.05).Conclusion Urine formaldehyde level is worthwhile to be explored as a marker in AD diagnosis and severity assessment.