The role of biomarkers in clinical trials for Alzheimer disease.
Biomarkers are likely to be important in the study of Alzheimer disease (AD) for a variety of reasons. A clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is inaccurate even among experienced investigators in about 10% to 15% of cases, and biomarkers might improve the accuracy of diagnosis. Importantly for the development of putative disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer disease, biomarkers might also serve as indirect measures of disease severity. When used in this way, sample sizes of clinical trials might be reduced, and a change in biomarker could be considered supporting evidence of disease modification. This review summarizes a meeting of the Alzheimer's Association's Research Roundtable, during which existing and emerging biomarkers for AD were evaluated. Imaging biomarkers including volumetric magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography assessing either glucose utilization or ligands binding to amyloid plaque are discussed. Additionally, biochemical biomarkers in blood or cerebrospinal fluid are assessed. Currently appropriate uses of biomarkers in the study of Alzheimer disease, and areas where additional work is needed, are discussed.
Thal
Leon J
LJ
University of California San Diego, Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, California, USA.
Kantarci
Kejal
K
Reiman
Eric M
EM
Klunk
William E
WE
Weiner
Michael W
MW
Zetterberg
Henrik
H
Galasko
Douglas
D
Praticò
Domenico
D
Griffin
Sue
S
Schenk
Dale
D
Siemers
Eric
E
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016875:tau Proteins
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016875:tau Proteins