Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory cytokine-like, extracellular matrix protein that is elevated within the brain and CSF in several neurodegenerative disorders, including HIV-associated cognitive disorder.
The finding that amnestic MCI based on brief neuropsychological assessment is significantly associated with CSF biomarkers for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease is in accordance with longitudinal studies that find memory impairment; both in itself and especially in combination with other cognitive deficit to constitute a risk factor for subsequent cognitive decline and dementia.
These findings suggest that traditional psychiatric care may be appropriate for patients with isolated psychiatric symptoms who have positive serum NMDAR testing when CSFis negative and there are no key clinical features such as cognitive deficits, catatonia, speech disturbance, and antipsychotic sensitivity.