Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-based neurological problem characterized by dementia. AD has become a serious concern for public health with an expected threefold increase in Alzheimer’s cases by 2050. Various treatments are available for the treatment of AD. However, a big challenge is the late diagnosis of AD which can affect the treatment outcomes. Particularly in the aging brain, AD pathology can often co-occur with other neurodegenerative and vascular illnesses. For this reason, prompt differential diagnosis is essential to provide the right care, support, and customized treatment regimens. Diagnosis of AD at early stages (prognosis) when the changes are very mild can be beneficial. At present, several potential biomarkers are available for evaluation and diagnosis of AD. Biomarkers-based early detection of AD can enable scientists to find new treatments and approaches to prevent or delay dementia. Structural and functional imaging of the brain with the help of magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scans are some widely used methods to screen AD. Analysis of body fluids such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and urine for AD-associated proteins to aid in the diagnosis of AD pathology. In this article, currently used biomarkers for AD are reviewed. A comparative overview of various biomarkers with their applications, advantages, and disadvantages is given in a table form. Recent developments in the field of AD diagnosis have been highlighted.
Key words: Alzheimer's, biomarkers, prognosis, diagnosis, imaging, biofluids, challenges
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