About this Research Topic
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects more than 46.8 million people globally. The hallmarks of AD include the extracellular deposition of senile plaques composed of amyloid-beta protein, the intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and a progressive decline of cognitive functions.
The pathophysiological mechanisms of AD are extremely heterogeneous; they may involve synaptic activity dysregulations, neuroinflammation aberrancies etc. Unfortunately, without a real understanding of AD onset, its early diagnosis remains challenging and treatments to alleviate disease symptoms are also very limited.
Biomarkers are extensively studied in AD, these are measurable biological parameters used to identify the disease status. A number of AD biomarkers have been discovered in blood or cerebrospinal fluid thanks to protein level or structure alterations reflecting epigenetic and gene expression changes, other biomarkers could be identified during brain imaging sessions by analyzing molecular, structural or functional abnormalities in AD patients’ brains.
Efforts in the detection and classification of biomarkers have greatly advanced the understanding of AD pathophysiological mechanisms, together with the development of new techniques to probe biomarkers, which may facilitate the early diagnosis of AD and help monitor the disease progression.
The aim of this Research Topic is to cover recent progress in the field of AD biomarkers detection, as well as related mechanistic studies and technological advancements. We will welcome Original Research and Review related, but are not limited to, the following biomarker areas:
1. Genetic and epigenetic changes that might be used as relevant biomarker;
2. Body fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers;
3. Mechanistic studies relating to specific biomarkers (e.g. in neuroinflammation);
4. Advanced technologies to identify or measure biomarkers;
5. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
The pathophysiological mechanisms of AD are extremely heterogeneous; they may involve synaptic activity dysregulations, neuroinflammation aberrancies etc. Unfortunately, without a real understanding of AD onset, its early diagnosis remains challenging and treatments to alleviate disease symptoms are also very limited.
Biomarkers are extensively studied in AD, these are measurable biological parameters used to identify the disease status. A number of AD biomarkers have been discovered in blood or cerebrospinal fluid thanks to protein level or structure alterations reflecting epigenetic and gene expression changes, other biomarkers could be identified during brain imaging sessions by analyzing molecular, structural or functional abnormalities in AD patients’ brains.
Efforts in the detection and classification of biomarkers have greatly advanced the understanding of AD pathophysiological mechanisms, together with the development of new techniques to probe biomarkers, which may facilitate the early diagnosis of AD and help monitor the disease progression.
The aim of this Research Topic is to cover recent progress in the field of AD biomarkers detection, as well as related mechanistic studies and technological advancements. We will welcome Original Research and Review related, but are not limited to, the following biomarker areas:
1. Genetic and epigenetic changes that might be used as relevant biomarker;
2. Body fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers;
3. Mechanistic studies relating to specific biomarkers (e.g. in neuroinflammation);
4. Advanced technologies to identify or measure biomarkers;
5. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegeneration, biomarkers, synapse, neuroinflammation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
