Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition associated with neurofibrillary tangles and cortical deposition of amyloid plaques. Clinical presentation of the disease involves manifestations such as memory loss, cognitive decline and dementia with some of the earliest reported deficits being...

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Main Authors: Shiavax J. Rao, Andrew J. Boileau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2020-06-01
Series:International Journal of Medical Students
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/452
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author Shiavax J. Rao
Andrew J. Boileau
author_facet Shiavax J. Rao
Andrew J. Boileau
author_sort Shiavax J. Rao
collection DOAJ
description Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition associated with neurofibrillary tangles and cortical deposition of amyloid plaques. Clinical presentation of the disease involves manifestations such as memory loss, cognitive decline and dementia with some of the earliest reported deficits being episodic memory impairment and olfactory dysfunction. Current diagnostic approaches rely on autopsy characterization of gross brain pathology, or brain imaging of biomarkers late in the disease course. The aim of this literature review is to identify and compare novel blood-based biomarkers with the potential of making an earlier clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Utilizing such techniques may allow for earlier therapeutic intervention, reduction of disability and enhancement of patients’ quality of life. Literature review and analysis was performed by screening the PubMed database for relevant studies between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. Sixteen studies were reviewed with biomarker candidates categorized under microRNAs (miRNAs), auto-antibodies, other blood-based proteins or circulating nucleic acids. Three biomarker candidates – serum neurofilament light chain, plasma ?-secretase 1 activity and a panel of three miRNAs (miR-135a/193b/384) – reported statistically significant differences in testing between patients and controls, with high discriminative potential and high statistical power. In conclusion, certain blood biomarkers have shown promising results with high sensitivity and specificity, high discriminative potential for Alzheimer’s disease early in its progression, and statistically significant results in larger study samples. Utilization of such diagnostic biomarkers could increase the efficacy of making an earlier clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
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spelling doaj.art-febae875b94541c5a15a2c3ecacfda622023-08-02T09:03:21ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Medical Students2076-63272020-06-018210.5195/ijms.2020.452Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature ReviewShiavax J. Rao0Andrew J. Boileau1Saba University School of Medicine, Caribbean NetherlandsSaba University School of Medicine, Caribbean Netherlands Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition associated with neurofibrillary tangles and cortical deposition of amyloid plaques. Clinical presentation of the disease involves manifestations such as memory loss, cognitive decline and dementia with some of the earliest reported deficits being episodic memory impairment and olfactory dysfunction. Current diagnostic approaches rely on autopsy characterization of gross brain pathology, or brain imaging of biomarkers late in the disease course. The aim of this literature review is to identify and compare novel blood-based biomarkers with the potential of making an earlier clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Utilizing such techniques may allow for earlier therapeutic intervention, reduction of disability and enhancement of patients’ quality of life. Literature review and analysis was performed by screening the PubMed database for relevant studies between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. Sixteen studies were reviewed with biomarker candidates categorized under microRNAs (miRNAs), auto-antibodies, other blood-based proteins or circulating nucleic acids. Three biomarker candidates – serum neurofilament light chain, plasma ?-secretase 1 activity and a panel of three miRNAs (miR-135a/193b/384) – reported statistically significant differences in testing between patients and controls, with high discriminative potential and high statistical power. In conclusion, certain blood biomarkers have shown promising results with high sensitivity and specificity, high discriminative potential for Alzheimer’s disease early in its progression, and statistically significant results in larger study samples. Utilization of such diagnostic biomarkers could increase the efficacy of making an earlier clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/452Alzheimer's diseaseDiagnosisBiomarkersEarly diagnosis
spellingShingle Shiavax J. Rao
Andrew J. Boileau
Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
International Journal of Medical Students
Alzheimer's disease
Diagnosis
Biomarkers
Early diagnosis
title Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
title_full Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
title_fullStr Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
title_short Novel Blood Biomarkers for an Earlier Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
title_sort novel blood biomarkers for an earlier diagnosis of alzheimer s disease a literature review
topic Alzheimer's disease
Diagnosis
Biomarkers
Early diagnosis
url https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/452
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