| New Tools for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease: What Are Biomarkers and Morphometric Markers Teaching Us? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21518812 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Early detection is vital in the quest to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and CSF biomarkers (Aβ42, t-tau, p-tau) and MRI morphometry distinguish AD from healthy controls. Aβ42 and neurodegenerative biomarkers may precede clinical symptoms, but it is not clear whether AD invariably follows and whether neuropsychological tests are as sensitive. Aβ42 is related to plaque burden, which was assumed to be the main cause of AD. Evidence is now pointing to other forms of Aβ, for example, soluble Aβ oligomers, and it is possible that plaques are secondary rather than causative to neuronal damage. This makes it less obvious that CSF Aβ42 necessarily is the most potent marker. Atrophy has been regarded as a downstream event, but novel MRI analysis techniques detect atrophy at a stage where the cognitive reductions are small and possibly reversible, and MRI is superior to CSF biomarkers in the prediction of cognitive decline. The impact of biomarkers may be dynamic; changed Aβ42 is seen in cognitively normal, while atrophy causes decrements later. In conclusion, CSF and MRI biomarkers are extremely important, but it is not known whether they can distinguish events that will lead to AD from events that will not before cognitive reductions are measurable. |
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Authors:
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Anders M Fjell; Kristine B Walhovd |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-4-25 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry Volume: - ISSN: 1089-4098 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-4-26 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9504819 Medline TA: Neuroscientist Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Dept of Psychology, Center for the Study of Human Cognition, University of Oslo, and Dept of Neuropsychology, Ullevål University Hospital, Norway. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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