ADRC Director Dr. Thomas Grabowski discusses brain scans with a research participant. Learn more. UW Medicine/KOMO News
The Importance of Biomarkers
Biomarkers are measures of what is happening inside the living body, shown by the results of laboratory and imaging tests. Some examples are elevated PSA levels, which may indicate prostate cancer, and elevated blood pressure readings, which may indicate high blood pressure. These measurable substances help us diagnose disease, create individualized treatment plans, and ultimately, develop standards for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. They are the signposts that guide our long and complicated journey toward finding medications, preventive strategies, and cures for Alzheimer’s disease.
What are Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease?
Research into biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease is an important focal point of the ADRC’s past and current research and exploration.
Biomarkers are measurable markers in the blood, spinal fluid, levels of amyloid or tau pathology in the brain, patterns of brain activity on functional MRI or PET scan, or scores on cognitive tests. Our research aims to identify specific biomarkers that definitively indicate whether people have Alzheimer’s disease or whether they may be at risk of developing dementia sometime in the future.
We hope that by identifying biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease we will be able to accurately tailor Alzheimer’s treatments and recognize people who may be good candidates for prevention treatments-the hallmark of a precision medicine approach. Tracking changes in biomarkers over time can help researchers to monitor a disease’s path through the brain, or the effect of a therapeutic during a clinical trial.
Biomarker Research
- For in-depth information on biomarkers and their value to dementia research and treatment, please read the NIA publication, Biomarkers for Dementia Detection and Research.
