Emerging biomarkers in cognition

Abstract

Knowledge of aging and dementia is rapidly evolving with the aim of identifying individuals in the earliest stages of disease processes. Biomarkers allow clinicians to show the presence of a pathologic process and resultant synapse dysfunction and neurodegeneration, even in the earliest stages. This article focuses on biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer disease, structural magnetic resonance imaging, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography, and PET with dopamine ligands. Although these biomarkers are useful, several limitations exist. Several new biomarkers are emerging and a more biological characterization of underlying pathophysiologic spectra may become possible.

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Biomarkers; Dementia.