https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/32/1/e100054?utm_source=marketing_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gpsych&utm_content=monthly&utm_term=3-2019
Maclin JMA, Wang T, Xiao S, Biomarkers
for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia Lewy body, frontotemporal
dementia and vascular dementia, Gen Psych 2019;32:e100054. doi: 10.1136/gpsych-2019-100054
Abstract
Background Dementia
is a chronic brain disorder classified by four distinct diseases that impact
cognition and mental degeneration. Each subgroup exhibits similar brain
deficiencies and mutations. This review will focus on four dementia subgroups:
Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and dementia
Lewy body.
Aim The
aim of this systematic review is to create a concise overview of unique
similarities within dementia used to locate and identify new biomarker methods
in diagnosing dementia.
Methods 123 300
articles published after 2010 were identified from PubMed, JSTOR, WorldCat
Online Computer Library and PALNI (Private Academic Library Network of Indiana)
using the following search items (in title or abstract): ‘Neurodegenerative
Diseases’ OR ‘Biomarkers’ OR ‘Alzheimer’s Disease’ OR ‘Frontal Temporal Lobe
Dementia’ OR ‘Vascular Dementia’ OR ‘Dementia Lewy Body’ OR ‘Cerebral Spinal
Fluid’ OR ‘Mental Cognitive Impairment’. 47 studies were included in the
qualitative synthesis.
Results Evidence
suggested neuroimaging with amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scanning
and newly found PET tracers to be more effective in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and
amnesiac mental cognitive impairment than carbon-11 Pittsburgh compound-B
radioisotope tracer. Newly created methods to make PET scans more accurate and practical
in clinical settings signify a major shift in diagnosing dementia and
neurodegenerative diseases.
Conclusion Vast
improvements in neuroimaging techniques have led to newly discovered biomarkers
and diagnostics. Neuroimaging with amyloid PET scanning surpasses what had been
considered the dominant method of neuroimaging and MRI. Newly created methods
to make PET scans more accurate and practical in clinical settings signify a
major shift in diagnosing dementia pathology. Continued research and studies
must be conducted to improve current findings and streamline methods to further
subcategorise neurodegenerative disorders and diagnosis.
