Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the major form of dementia in the elderly, characterised by progressive decline in cognitive function and the gradual build-up of A amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Due to our aging population, and increasing lifespans, this disease is reaching epidemic proportions: currently 35 million people are estimated to have AD worldwide and within a generation this figure is predicted to increase to 115 million. Although considerable progress has been made into our understanding of AD there is still no effective treatment and no definitive diagnostic test during life. It is now generally recognized that for any drug treatment to be effective, an early diagnostic test for AD is essential. This study investigated the effects of low testosterone and high levels of dietary fats that have been associated with the pathogenesis of AD, and determined whether their effects were more pronounced in APOE e4 carriers, using an animal model of AD. Cholesterol and certain cholesterol metabolite levels were altered by these factors and with age.