Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid beta and tau proteins in atypical Parkinsonism: a review

Progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies are the most common causes of atypical Parkinsonism and enter the differential diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. multiple system atrophy, dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease are synucleinopathies, whereas progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration are tauopathies. Multiple cerebrospinal fluid markers have been applied on cohorts of patients with Parkinsonism, with the aim to develop biomarkers for these disorders. Total tau (τΤ), phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (τP-181) and amyloid-beta with 42 amino acids (Aβ42) are considered classical biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of the present study is to review the literature regarding these classical cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in cohorts with Parkinsonism, as well as present data on novel approaches regarding analysis of these proteins.