Biomarkers: From early detection to treatment personalization

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomarker Research
• Precision Medicine

Background:

• Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) like Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), and ALS are growing concerns due to global aging populations.
• Socioeconomic impacts of NDs necessitate improved diagnostic and treatment strategies.
• Current diagnostic methods, such as CSF analysis and brain imaging, can be invasive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the critical role of biomarkers in the early detection, monitoring, and personalized treatment of NDs.
• To classify different types of biomarkers, including fluid, digital imaging, and molecular markers.
• To review the pathophysiology and diagnostic implications of key proteinopathies (tau, amyloid-β, α-synuclein, TDP-43) in NDs.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.
• Classification of biomarkers based on type (fluid, imaging, molecular).
• Analysis of protein deposition patterns (tau, amyloid-β, α-synuclein, TDP-43) in NDs.

Main Results:

• Biomarkers are essential tools for precision medicine, enabling early detection and tailored treatment plans.
• Co-deposition of key proteins like tau and amyloid-β is common in NDs, posing diagnostic challenges.
• Recent research focuses on in vivo biomarkers in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

Conclusions:

• Biomarkers are transforming the landscape of neurodegenerative disease management.
• Interdisciplinary research and technological advancements are vital for future biomarker-driven precision medicine.
• Understanding complex proteinopathies is key to improving clinicopathological significance and patient outcomes.