CHI3L1 and Mental deterioration: CSF markers of neuroinflammation and endothelial injury (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, YKL-40, IL-15 and VEGF-A) were reported to be elevated in the pre-clinical stages of AD and to be tightly associated with CSF tau, markers of cognitive decline, and cortical thinning – the relationship was strongest in individuals who were Aβ-positive on PET scan [30].