Biochemical markers for improved diagnostic discrimination of Alzheimer's disease from dementia with Lewy bodies.

This project aims to investigate biochemical markers for dementia with Lewy bodies aiming at improved clinical diagnosis of this neurological disorder that is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease. This research project aims at improving the AD versus DLB differential dementia diagnosis, combining both existing and new biomarkers:Neurodegenerative dementias are characterized by changes in the brain that include aggregation and deposition of proteins. Biochemical markers (biomarkers) that reflect these neuropathological changes have potential diagnostic value. Some biomarkers have proven their diagnostic value and are able to discriminate Alzheimer's disease (AD) from healthy controls and patients with depression or other psychiatric disorders. However, given the overlap in clinical symptoms, pathology and pathophysiology, the discrimination of AD from dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) remains a clinically relevant but unsolved issue. A correct and early AD diagnosis will be of great importance once disease-modifying drugs for AD will become available as these (potentially toxic) drugs will probably be not effective for other types of dementia.This research will focus on biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that reflect the neuropathology and thus with potential diagnostic value for discriminating AD from DLB. The combination of different biomarkers in clinically and pathologically well-characterized patient groups makes this research valuable and is clinically relevant as probably only the combination of markers can achieve more accurate results to discriminate DLB from AD. This research will not only improve diagnosing AD and DLB but will also provide new insights in the pathophysiology of dementia.

Keywords:LEWY BODY DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

Disciplines:Diagnostics, Laboratory medicine, Neurosciences, Medicinal products, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing