Blood Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications for the Clinical Neurologist

blood-based biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia, are a growing health concern worldwide, and their diagnosis and management are still challenging. However, recent advances in blood-based biomarkers offer new opportunities for clinical evaluation and monitoring of these diseases. In this review article, entitled “Blood Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications for the … Read more

GFAP in blood helps predict the evolution of frontotemporal dementia

GFAP and frontotemporal dementia Frontotemporal dementia is a heterogeneous entity with variable clinical manifestations. As a consequence, it can be confused with psychiatric diseases or other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the advances in the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia in the last two decades, we still do not have a precise marker for … Read more

Neurofilament and total tau in plasma for the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s

neurofilament - illan-gala - sant pau memory unit - barcelona

The Sant Pau Memory Unit publishes a new study in collaboration with the University of California San Francisco. The study examines the role of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and total tau levels in plasma for the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The work entitled “Plasma tau and neurofilament light in frontotemporal lobar degeneration … Read more

Overlapping microstructural changes in the brain of patients with ALS and frontotemporal dementia

ELA - DFT microestructura - Sant Pau Memory Unit - Barcelona

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) Until a few years ago, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS was considered a neurodegenerative disease that caused a progressive loss of strength with preservation of intellectual functions. However, in recent years we have learned that patients with ALS can frequently present with cognitive and personality changes that … Read more

Circular RNAs in Alzheimer and frontotemporal dementia

Circular RNAs in Alzheimer and frontotemporal - Cervera - Sant Pau Memory Unit

What are circular RNAs? RNAs are a type of molecules present in all human cells. They usually have a linear conformation. However, some species with a ring-like structure have recently been described and named “circular RNAs”, but little is known about their function. Recent studies in the field have reported changes in the levels of … Read more

Amyloid protein in patients with frontotemporal dementia

Illán-Gala, APP, frontotemporal - Sant Pau Memory Unit - Barcelona

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia or FTD can be hard. The use of biomarkers such as the levels of different proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid allows to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Specifically, protein levels related to the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) have been linked to cerebral amyloid protein … Read more