Biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
• Current AD diagnostics (e.g., imaging) often lack accuracy and fail to detect the disease early, limiting treatment efficacy.
• Existing biomarkers (e.g., CSF amyloid-β, tau) primarily track disease progression rather than enabling early diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of proteomics in identifying novel biomarkers for early and accurate Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
• To explore various biofluids (sweat, serum, saliva, tears, urine) as accessible sources for AD biomarker discovery.
• To highlight the challenges and advancements in using proteomic analysis of biofluids for AD detection.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of proteomic studies analyzing biofluids for Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
• Analysis of identified protein biomarkers associated with early-stage AD.
• Evaluation of the diagnostic potential and limitations of various biofluid sources.

Main Results:

• Proteomic analysis of biofluids has identified several candidate biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
• Alternative biofluids like sweat, saliva, and urine show promise as less invasive sources for AD biomarkers.
• The identified biomarkers require further validation for clinical application in early AD detection.

Conclusions:

• Proteomics offers a promising avenue for discovering accessible biomarkers for early Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
• Investigating biofluids beyond cerebrospinal fluid is crucial for developing non-invasive and accurate diagnostic tools.
• Further research and validation are necessary to translate these proteomic findings into clinical practice for improved AD patient outcomes.