Preparing for a New Era in Alzheimer's Disease: Debating New Targeted Biomarkers and Therapeutic Approaches

Sharon Cohen, MD, and Marwan Sabbagh, MD, differentiate between the preclinical, prodromal, and dementia stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and highlight known risk factors, including the contribution of ApoE gene polymorphism and copy numbers.

Key opinion leaders emphasize the significance of early diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease, as it allows patients to make autonomous decisions and access early treatment options, including potential participation in clinical trials.

The panel provides an overview of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the generation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, Aβ42 and Aβ40, while also discussing which soluble or insoluble Aβ species (monomers, oligomers, protofibrils, or amyloid plaques) contribute to neuronal damage and the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease.

Panelists delve into the amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease and the ongoing debate surrounding it, discussing the presence and potential roles of Aβ monomers, oligomers, protofibrils, and amyloid plaques in patients with Alzheimer's disease.