Proteomic profiling identifies serpin G1, ApoA-II, and LBP as potential biomarkers of dementia in an Egyptian cohort

BACKGROUND Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a growing concern in Egypt, yet biomarker research in this population is scarce. Identifying serum biomarkers is essential for early diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms in underrepresented groups. METHODS We performed serum proteomic profiling on 20 Egyptian dementia patients and 10 cognitively unimpaired controls from the Egyptian Dementia Registry using mass spectrometry. Differential protein expression and pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. RESULTS Of 260 quantified proteins, 21 were significantly different between dementia patients and controls (P < 0.05). Several serine protease inhibitor and immunoglobulin family proteins were downregulated, while apolipoprotein A-II was upregulated in dementia. Enrichment analysis revealed associations with inflammation, complement activation, and lipid metabolism pathways. CONCLUSION This is the first serum proteomic study of dementia in an Egyptian cohort, highlighting coordinated changes in protein families involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism, and emphasizing the importance of biomarker research in diverse populations.