Les marqueurs biochimiques du LCR : un outil diagnostique de la maladie d'Alzheimer

The performance of three validated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), total tau protein, hyperphosphorylated tau protein and the 42 amino acid form of ß-amyloid have been summarized. For each test, the mean sensitivity and specificity to discriminate AD and normal aging are higher than 80%. The combination of the three tests is particularly useful for the early diagnosis and is able to predict, when two parameters are altered, incipient AD in MCI cases with a specificity higher than 90%. However, it is insufficient to discriminate AD from other dementia. For this purpose other biomarkers should be developed.