Biomarkers, Imaging Ready for Prime Time in AD Diagnosis

Post date: 2010/7/18 下午 02:26:43

July 14, 2010 (Honolulu, Hawaii) — Draft reports from 3 workgroups presented here at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 will form the basis for new diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) — the first update of the current criteria in 25 years.

The NIA/Alzheimer's Association working groups were organized around the three stages of Alzheimer's disease that are commonly thought to exist today – pre-clinical Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's, and Alzheimer's dementia.

• Pre-clinical – The group is laying out a research agenda to identify methods of assessment that may help predict risk for developing the disease. Biomarkers and other clinical assessment tools to identify early cognitive decline are being investigated to establish the presence of Alzheimer's brain changes in people with no overt symptoms and to identify those who may eventually develop the disease.
• Mild cognitive impairment – The group is refining the MCI criteria, which will help to indicate cognitive change before dementia and better differentiate MCI from Alzheimer's. Research is underway to better understand the cognitive changes taking place, how they may relate to biomarkers, and which of these methods best indicate the likelihood of imminent progression to Alzheimer's dementia.
• Alzheimer's dementia – The group is revising the existing criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's to include possible biomarkers and other assessments that may aid in diagnosis.

隨著醫學界對阿茲海默症有更進一步的了解，國際醫學專家目前正積極推動把已經實施超過二十五年的診斷標準進行重大改革。

專家表示新標準將使得全球被判定罹患阿茲海默症的人數比現在增加兩到三倍。新的建議將阿茲海默症區分為臨床前期，輕度知能障礙，以及阿茲海默症三個分期。

新聞來源：http://www.alz.org/icad/2010_release_diagnostic_071310_130pm.asp