Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease(AD) denotes a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, predominantly identified by the abnormal buildup of β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau proteins in the brain. Despite the absence of a definitive cure, identifying the disease early is essential for slowing its advancement and enhancing the well-being of patients. Traditional diagnostic approaches, however, typically fail to detect brain changes until symptoms are evident, underscoring the importance of biomarker studies in achieving earlier detection of AD. This review focuses on the principal biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing those present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, and evaluates their potential role in facilitating early detection. While conventional CSF markers, including Aβ42, total tau, and phosphorylated tau, are commonly employed, their invasive nature and high costs pose challenges to widespread use. More recently, research on blood-based indicators has emerged as a significant area of interest, with markers like neurofilament light chain (NFL) and plasma tau showing substantial promise for diagnosis. This paper also explores how these biomarkers could illuminate the underlying mechanisms of AD, improve diagnostic reliability, and support timely interventions, while anticipating future advancements in the discovery of new diagnostic tools.
Source: Theoretical and Natural Science
Author: Jiwei Duan
Institution: Guangzhou Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4410418116