Atlas of Biomarkers for Alzheimer"s Disease (ebook)

Argumento de Atlas of Biomarkers for Alzheimer"s Disease (ebook)

In view of t he growing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) worldwide, there is an urgent need for the development of better diagnostic tools and more effective therapeutic interventions. At the earliest stages of AD, no significant cognitive or functional impairment is detected by conventional clinical methods. However, new technologies based on structural and functional neuro imaging,and on the biochemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may reveal correlates of intracerebral pathology in individuals with mild, predementias y mptoms. These putative correlates are commonly referred to asAD-related biomarkers. There relevance of the early diagnosis of AD relies on the hypothesis that pharmacological interventions with disease-modifying compounds are likely to produce clinically relevant benefits if started early enough in the continuum towards dementia. Here were view the clinical characteristics of the prodromal and transitional states from normal cognitive ageing to dementia in AD. We further address recent developments in biomarker research to support the early diagnosis and prediction of dementia, and point out the challenges and perspectives for the translation of research data into clinical practice. A biomarker is a Variables (physical, chemical, or anatomical) that can be measured in a person and reflect the state of the disease Eg. blood, CSF (spinal fluid), functional brain scans, MRI scan... Some markers are sensitive to disease state and useful for diagnosis; others are more sensitive to disease progression and useful as surrogate markers in clinical trials. Does having medial temporal lobe atrophy,a positive PET amyloid scanor CSF mean dementia will develop??Means the biological signature of AD?Many elderly have positive markers and do not have dementia?..uncertain if they will. CLINICAL expression of AD biological signature depends on other factors,such as cognitive reserve and vascular changes.0