Dear Colleagues,

Although Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, the pathogenic mechanisms are not yet fully understood and disease-modifying therapy is not yet available. Very early and accurate diagnosis will clearly be needed to achieve the best treatment outcomes. Over the past decade, the introduction of specific biomarkers such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins and functional neuroimaging into the diagnostic criteria has driven major changes in our understanding of AD. New classifications have been developed (e.g. the ATN system) and AD is now viewed as a biological entity rather than a clinical one. Some interesting new biomarkers are currently under investigation with the aim of ameliorating both diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. These include neurofilaments or synaptic-related proteins such as neurogranin, synuclein, and synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP). In addition, AD-associated proteins such as amyloid and tau can be investigated in tissues other than CSF that are easier to collect, such as blood and saliva. Furthermore, novel neuroimaging tracers are being developed to detect in vivo deposition of tau, or neuroinflammation of the brain.

The goal of the current special issue is to gather original research, communications and reviews to further clarify the role of biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of AD.

Dr.Tommaso Piccoli

Guest Editor