REVIEW PAPER
Could glutamate be a diagnostic marker in neurological and psychiatric diseases?
1
Student Research Group ISOMERS at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
Corresponding author
Dorota Luchowska-Kocot
Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
J Pre Clin Clin Res. 2025;19(1):20-28
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Glutamate plays a role in the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraine, and stroke. Additionally, it is implicated in the aetiology of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar affective disorder. As it can be simply identified in bodily fluids, fluctuations in its levels may serve as a potential indicator of pathological processes. The aim of the study was to determine whether fluctuations in glutamate concentrations could be beneficial in predicting and monitoring the progression of the mentioned diseases.
Review methods:
A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using the following algorithm: (glutamate) AND (blood/plasma/serum/nerve tissue) AND (neurodegeneration/Alzheimer/Parkinson/migraine/stroke/psychiatric/depression/schizophrenia). More than 80% of the identified publications were published in 2017 or later.
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
The majority of studies cited revealed a clear difference in glutamate concentrations between the control group and the study group. In the majority of cases of neurodegenerative diseases, blood glutamate concentrations demonstrated a downward trend. Conversely, in psychiatric diseases, stroke and migraine, they exhibited an upward trend.
Summary:
Damage to the blood-brain barrier, which regulates glutamate transfer from nerve tissue to blood, appears to significantly affect glutamate levels in both blood and nerve tissue during disease. Altered blood glutamate concentration could serve as a diagnostic marker, although meta-analysis is needed to define clinically applicable ranges.
Glutamate plays a role in the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraine, and stroke. Additionally, it is implicated in the aetiology of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar affective disorder. As it can be simply identified in bodily fluids, fluctuations in its levels may serve as a potential indicator of pathological processes. The aim of the study was to determine whether fluctuations in glutamate concentrations could be beneficial in predicting and monitoring the progression of the mentioned diseases.
Review methods:
A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using the following algorithm: (glutamate) AND (blood/plasma/serum/nerve tissue) AND (neurodegeneration/Alzheimer/Parkinson/migraine/stroke/psychiatric/depression/schizophrenia). More than 80% of the identified publications were published in 2017 or later.
Brief description of the state of knowledge:
The majority of studies cited revealed a clear difference in glutamate concentrations between the control group and the study group. In the majority of cases of neurodegenerative diseases, blood glutamate concentrations demonstrated a downward trend. Conversely, in psychiatric diseases, stroke and migraine, they exhibited an upward trend.
Summary:
Damage to the blood-brain barrier, which regulates glutamate transfer from nerve tissue to blood, appears to significantly affect glutamate levels in both blood and nerve tissue during disease. Altered blood glutamate concentration could serve as a diagnostic marker, although meta-analysis is needed to define clinically applicable ranges.
Kwiatkowski B, Biedroń N, Gawryś U, Tochman W, Luchowska-Kocot D. Could glutamate be a diagnostic marker in neurological and psychiatric
diseases? J Pre-Clin Clin Res. 2025; 19(1): 20–28. doi: 10.26444/jpccr/201214
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