The Search for Biomarkers of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is hard to diagnose, and clinical laboratory evaluation is based on the exclusion of other conditions. Specific AD biomarkers are therefore needed for the differential diagnosis of cognitive impairment in the elderly and for the application of new therapeutic approaches to the disease.

The March 2006 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (Iso Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) is devoted to current research into "Biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.” The investigators emphasize that improved patient care will depend on the development of panels of biomarkers that complement clinical examination, cognitive testing, and neuroimaging. In six articles, researchers and clinicians review the search for potential biomarkers.

Jeffrey L. Cummings (University of California, Los Angeles, USA) discusses the use of clinical evaluation as a biomarker. Douglas Galasko (University of California at San Diego, USA), describes current candidates for AD biomarkers such as amyloid-beta, tau, and phosphor-tau. Anna M. Fagan and colleagues (Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA) discuss challenges related to the development of biomarkers for "preclinical AD.” The monitoring of F2-isoprostanes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a diagnostic tool for following potential antioxidant therapies for AD is discussed by Thomas J. Montine and colleagues (University of Washington, Seattle, USA) in an article titled: "Quantitative in vivo biomarkers of oxidative damage and their application to the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease.”

Proinflammatory cytokines as potential markers of AD are reviewed by Robert E. Mrak and Susan T. Griffin (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA), who point out that difficulties could be encountered due to complicating genetic factors. Finally, Jing Zhang and colleagues (University of Washington, Seattle, USA) discuss recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and metablomics. They review the prospect of clinical diagnosis via unique protein markers and the practical limitations of proteomic analysis of CSF.



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Journal of Alzheimer's disease