Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment of AD are of paramount importance, with the concept of biomarkers being intrinsically linked to diagnosis and therapy. Biomarkers are indices that can be objectively measured to indicate normal biological processes, pathological conditions, or responses to therapeutic interventions. In 2023, the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association released updated clinical diagnostic guidelines, refining the 2018 research framework. These guidelines categorize AD biomarkers into three types: core AD biomarkers, non-specific biomarkers of tissue response related to AD pathophysiology, and biomarkers for non-AD comorbidities, thus enhancing the amyloid/tau/x/neurodegeneration (ATX(N)) framework. This article aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the advancements within the ATX(N) framework and the progress in the study of various biomarkers under this framework. It analyzes how biomarkers can facilitate early disease diagnosis, discusses the challenges of translating biomarkers into effective treatments, and explores their therapeutic prospects.
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- ATX(N)
- cerebrospinal fluid
- blood
- positron emission tomography
- biomarkers
