Phosphorylated 14-3-3ξ protein in the CSF of neuroleptic-treated patients

The authors describe 12 neuroleptic-treated patients with dementia of various etiologies who showed CSF elevation of phosphorylated 14-3-3ζ and normal tau protein levels. This contrasted with elevated amounts of 14-3-3 γ, ε, and unphosphorylated ζ coupled to high tau protein levels in Creutzfeldt Jakob disease and negative 14-3-3 assay in drug-free patients with dementia. Characterization of CSF 14-3-3 isoforms and determination of tau protein level can help to distinguish different etiologies of dementia.