Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease by: Daniela Galimberti
Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
By Daniela Galimberti
Publisher: Nova Biomedical Books
Number Of Pages: 307
Publication Date: 2008-01
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 1604569913
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9781604569919
Preface:
Alzheimers disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition into the brain of amyloid
peptide, which originates a cascade of inflammatory events leading eventually to neuronal
death. These pathological events likely occur several years before the clinical manifestation
of the disease, implying that potential therapeutical interventions are currently started too late
to give beneficial results. Recently, growing attention has been paid to the Mild Cognitive
Impairment (MCI), considered the prodromal phase of AD, as 80% of subjects with MCI
have been shown to develop AD within 5 years. Several studies aimed to identify biological
markers to differentiate between normal aging and incipient AD have been carried out,
including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and neuroimaging. In particular, the evaluation
of CSF Amyloid beta (1-42) levels, together with tau and phospotau, are of help for
recognizing early AD. Besides, a number of additional molecules are altered in CSF. Other
early modifications have been observed in peripheral cells, such as fibroblasts and
leukocytes, as well as in serum from patients. Biomarkers for AD represent important tools
supporting the clinical diagnosis and the choice of potential therapeutic options. Moreover,
they would be of great help for the selection of cohorts of homogeneous patients for clinical
trials with new disease-modifying compounds.
This book is aimed to give an update about MCI as prodromal Alzheimers disease (AD),
to discuss the main known pathological mechanisms at the basis of AD and to describe the
possible biomarkers to be used for an early diagnosis of the disease.
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