The Role of Biomarkers in Clinical Trials for Alzheimer Disease

Overview

Journal Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2006 Feb 24

PMID 16493230

Citations 96

Authors

Leon J Thal

Kejal Kantarci

Eric M Reiman

William E Klunk

Michael W Weiner

Henrik Zetterberg

Douglas Galasko

Domenico Pratico

Sue Griffin

Dale Schenk

Eric Siemers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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.

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