Chapter 5

Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Francisco J. Barrero Hernandez

Abstract

Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease starts several years before clinical manifestations are present; they make it possible to establish the clinical diagnosis of the disease. In this continuum of neurodegeneration there are still unknown factors to solve, although much progress has been made in identifying neuropathological, biochemical and genetic signs that help to diagnose the disease in the early stages (mild cognitive impairment) in order to start earlier an effective treatment.

There are several biomarkers proposed for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease such as neuroimaging with measurement of brain atrophy; also those related to glucose tracers, beta-amyloid and tau protein in (PET) Positron Emission Tomography; and in recent years, cerebrospinal fluid with the determination of beta-amyloid, tau, p-Tau and other proteins is being studied.

Total Pages: 67-82 (16)

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