Serum igG antibodies to GD1a and GM1 gangliosides in elderly people

Nowadays, the percentage of elderly people in society grows. Good nutrition and medical care help older people to have a normal life over 80 to 90 years. In the last ten years it is of critical importance to establish the clinical significance of serum IgG anti-GD1a and anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies as potential biomarkers for neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases and immune-mediated neuropathies and demyelination. In the current study, the diagnostic values of IgG anti-GD1a and anti-GM1 antibodies were determined by the ELISA method in serum samples of 18 elderly patients (71-91 years). Significantly elevated serum IgG anti-GD1a and anti-GM1 antibodies titers were detected only in patients over 80 years. These data suggest that the immune-mediated neuropathies, neurodegeneration and demyelination in healthy elderly occur after 80 years old. Therefore, IgG anti-GD1a and anti-GM1 antibodies can serve as biomarkers, showing the nervous system dysfunction.