Femke Bouwman, MD, PhD, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, discusses current and emerging diagnostics in Alzheimer’s disease. Establishing reliable biomarkers that are reflective of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and clinically useful as diagnostic tools has been a substantial focus of research in the last 20 years. Amyloid PET imaging and cerebral spinal fluid levels of amyloid and tau deposits are increasingly used, with clinical data consistently showing that these biomarkers are of diagnostic relevance. In recent years, major advancements in the development of plasma biomarkers have taken place. Novel technologies now enable accurate measurements of amyloid and tau in the blood, which may be applicable to clinical practice in the future. Dr Bouwman also highlights the retina as a promising source of potential biomarkers that would be a convenient screening tool. This interview took place during the European Academy of Neurology 2021 congress.
