CSF biomarker utilisation and ethical considerations of biomarker assisted diagnosis and research in dementia: perspectives from within the European Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium (EADC)

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 124 - 125
• Main Authors: Slats, D, Spies, P E, Sjögren, M J C, Visser, P-J, Verbeek, M M, Rikkert, M G M Olde, Kehoe, P G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2010; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - cerebrospinal fluid; Biomedical Research; Clinical medicine; Consortia; Data Collection; Dementia; Dementia - cerebrospinal fluid; Dementia - diagnosis; Ethics; Ethics, Medical; Europe; Humans; Informed consent; Societies, Medical; Europe
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2009.176412

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker analysis for dementia diagnostics (ie, the analysis of amyloid [beta]42, total tau and phosphorylated tau) is increasingly used in clinical practice. 1 However, there is still debate among researchers and clinicians about the sensitivity and specificity of various biomarker analyses, especially when comparing dementia subtypes. 2 The lack of consensus and heterogeneity for evidence on CSF biomarker use and validity is likely to have resulted in variable practices: belief in the utility of biomarker measurement has likely stimulated the use of CSF analysis in clinical practice in some places whereas elsewhere this practice probably has not been adopted at all.