Circulating Ghrelin as a Biomarker for Dementia

Exclusion Criteria

• •Age \< 60 years
• •Current major depression
• •Use of anti-psychotic medication
• •Type I or Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) (excluding diet-controlled DM)
• •Tobacco use
• •BMI \<15.0 kg/m2
• •BMI \> 30 kg/m2
• •Comorbid gastrointestinal disease i.e. includes Coeliac, active Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Colitis), evidence for active gastric ulcers within the last 12 months, but excludes gastroesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia.
• •\>5 kg weight change over the preceding 3 months (determined by researcher from previous clinic visit and discussion with partner/carer)
• •Significant active comorbidity
• •Difficult venous access
• •Vagotomy
• •Additional disease specific exclusions;
• •Evidence of dementia or mild cognitive impairment
• •Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
• •Use of Duodopa
• •Dementia within 12 months of diagnosis of PD
• •DBS
• •Onset of motor Parkinsonism symptoms greater than 12 months prior to dementia diagnosis
• •Presence of PD, PDD, DLB, or Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
• •Evidence of parkinsonism
• •Evidence of dementia or mild cognitive impairment
• •MoCA \<26/30