Welcome

This Learning Zone presents the benefits and limitations for diagnostic biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease, and reviews the latest biomarker innovations.

• Focus on neuroimaging and CSF biomarkers to help confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis
• Learn validation evidence for new blood-based biomarkers that meets some unmet needs
• Watch educational videos on Alzheimer’s management, presented by neurology specialists

Meet Charlotte Teunissen, Professor of Neurochemistry at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands, as she introduces this Learning Zone: Biomarker Innovation in Alzheimer’s Disease.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease requires identification of a clinical phenotype of the disease, and biomarker evidence of neuropathology (amyloid-positive and tau-positive)^1-3.

Recommended biomarker measures for amyloid β (Aβ) neuropathology are low cerebrospinal (CSF) Aβ42, decreased CSF Aβ42–Aβ40 ratio, or high tracer retention in amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET)^1-3. High CSF phosphorylated-tau, or increased ligand retention in tau-PET, are the recommended biomarker measures for tau neuropathology^1-3.

Key considerations for biomarker use in the clinic include understanding biomarker thresholds and ratios, what the thresholds are, and why they are important, and sampling considerations.

Innovations in biomarkers could contribute to meeting unmet needs related to earlier AD detection and diagnosis, and for assessing disease progression and treatment outcomes^1-4.

Biomarkers that are non-invasive, less costly, and more widely accessible, including blood-based biomarkers, are under development and validation^1-4.

Meet the expert

Meet the neurology specialist who hosted the Learning Zone educational videos.

Professor Charlotte Teunissen

Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands

A full professor in Neurochemistry, Professor Teunissen aims to improve care of patients with neurological diseases by developing body fluid biomarkers for diagnosis, stratification, prognosis and monitoring treatment responses. Her research group’s studies span the entire spectrum of biomarker development, starting with biomarker identification, followed by assay development and validation, and extensive clinical validation to ultimately implement novel biomarkers in clinical practice. She is responsible for the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam body fluid research and leads several international biomarker networks, such as the CSF Society, the Alzheimer Association-Global Biomarker Standardization consortium, and the recently founded Coral Proteomics Consortium. She is the coordinator of the Marie Curie MIRIADE project, aiming to train 15 young researchers in order to accelerate dementia biomarker development.

Disclosures: Collaboration contracts with ADx Neurosciences, Quanterix and Eli Lilly, performed contract research or received grants from AC-Immune, Axon Neurosciences, BioConnect, Bioorchestra, Brainstorm Therapeutics, Celgene, EIP Pharma, Eisai, Fujirebio, Grifols, Instant Nano Biosensors, Merck, Novo Nordisk, PeopleBio, Roche, Siemens, Toyama, Vivoryon; prior speaker contracts with Roche, Grifols, Novo Nordisk.

References

1. Scheltens P, De Strooper B, Kivipelto M, Holstege H, Chételat G, Teunissen CE. Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet. 2021;397:1577–1590.
2. Dubois B. Definition, natural history and diagnostic criteria of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. EAN/EPA: Diagnosis, prevention and novel treatment options in different dementias. Presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2022, 27 June. Vienna. SPS09.
3. Dubois B, Villain N, Frisoni GB, Rabinovici GD, Sabbagh M, Cappa S, et al. Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: recommendations of the International Working Group. Lancet Neurol. 2021;20(6):484–496.
4. Teunissen CE, Verberk IM, Thijssen EH, Vermunt L, Hansson O, Zetterberg H, et al. Blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: towards clinical implementation. The Lancet Neurology. 2022;21(1):66–77.