| Keywords [eng] |
Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, rapidly progressive dementia, biomarkers, neuroimaging, CSF, blood-based biomarkers |
| Abstract [eng] |
Dementia is a complex neurodegenerative disorder which presents with many subtypes. Patients often have overlapping symptoms, and diagnosis is often missed initially. Making an early diagnosis and accurately differentiating between AD, VaD, DLB, FTD, and RPD remains a critical challenge in practice. This thesis explores the role of biomarkers in the diagnosis as well as differential diagnosis between the various dementia subtypes, emphasizing the current and prospective roles that CSF markers, blood-based biomarkers, neuroimaging techniques, and genetic and novel biomarkers play. While CSF analysis and neuroimaging are widely used currently, their cost and invasiveness highlight the need for accessible fluid-based alternatives. Modalities such as mass spectrometry, ELISA, SIMOA, and proteomics play an important role in biomarker research and validating fluid-based biomarkers for use in clinical practice. AI and machine learning will also play a key role in biomarker research and the diagnosis of dementia. Despite significant progress, standardization, and clinical validation of these biomarkers remain key challenges. This thesis highlights the transformative potential of biomarker research in revolutionizing dementia diagnosis. |
