Book Description:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition into the brain of amyloid peptide, which originates a cascade of inflammatory events leading eventually to neuronal death. These pathological events likely occur several years before the clinical manifestation of the disease, implying that potential therapeutical interventions are currently started too late to give beneficial results. Recently, growing attention has been paid to the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), considered the prodromal phase of AD, as 80% of subjects with MCI have been shown to develop AD within 5 years. Several studies aimed to identify biological markers to differentiate between normal aging and incipient AD have been carried out, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and neuroimaging. In particular, the evaluation of CSF Amyloid beta (1-42) levels, together with tau and phospotau, are of help for recognizing early AD. Besides, a number of additional molecules are altered in CSF. Other early modifications have been observed in peripheral cells, such as fibroblasts and leukocytes, as well as in serum from patients. Biomarkers for AD represent important tools supporting the clinical diagnosis and the choice of potential therapeutic options. Moreover, they would be of great help for the selection of cohorts of homogeneous patients for clinical trials with new disease-modifying compounds.

This book is aimed to give an update about MCI as prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (AD), to discuss the main known pathological mechanisms at the basis of AD and to describe the possible biomarkers to be used for an early diagnosis of the disease.

Table of Contents:
Preface

Chapter 1: Mild Cognitive Impairment;pp. 1-9
(I. Guidi and D. Galimberti, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy)

Chapter 2: ‘Cogmarkers’ for the Diagnosis of Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type;pp. 11-28
(A. Monti,1,2, B. Poletti,3, S. Zago1,3)
(1.Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
2.Current affiliation CIMeC, Centro Interdipartimentale Mente/Cervello, University of Trento Polo, Rovereto, Italy
3.UO di Neurologia e Laboratorio di Neuroscienze, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Centro Dino Ferrari, University of Milan, Italy)

Chapter 3: The Role of Neuroimaging in the Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease;pp. 29-66
(V. Garibotto 1, D. Perani1,2)
1.IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
2.Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy)

Chapter 4: Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease;pp. 67-79
(E. Venturelli, C. Villa, E. Scarpini, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy)

Chapter 5: Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers: From Concept to Clinical Utility;pp. 81-122
(H. Vanderstichele 1, G. De Meyer 1, F. Shapiro 1, B. Engelborghs 2, L. Shaw 3, J. Trojanowski 3, 1. Department of Diagnostic Development, Innogenetics NV, Gent, Belgium, 2.Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Belgium, 3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Chapter 6: The CSF Analysis in Dementia (video included);pp. 123-156
(A. Petzold, Department of Neuroimmunology & Dementia Research Center, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, UK)

Chapter 7: Inflammation Related Factors: Role in Alzheimer’s Disease and Use as Biomarkers;pp. 157-210
(R. Veerhuis 1,2,3, S.D. Mulder1, N.A. Verwey 1,4, C. Mulder 1, C.E. Hack 1, J.J.M. Hoozemans 3, M.A. Blankenstein 1, P. Eikelenboom 2,5)
(1.Department of Clinical Chemistry and Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan, HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 2.Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan , HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 3. Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan , HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 4.Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan, HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 5. Neurology department, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Chapter 8: The Leukocyte Expression of CD36 and other Biomarkers: Risk Indicators of Alzheimer’s Disease;pp. 211-240
(A.E. Rigamonti 1, S.M. Bonomo 1, M. Giunta 1, E.E. Müller 1, M.G. Gagliano 2, S.G. Cella 1; 1. Department of Medical Pharmacology and Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEND), University of Milan, Milan, Italy, 2. Department of Immunoematology and Transfusion Medicine, San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan, Italy)

Chapter 9: The Role of Oxidative Stress and Vasoactive Substances in the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease;pp. 241-263
(G. Aliev 1,2, C.J. Cobb 1, J.C. Shenk 1,2, P.I. Moreira 3, K. Fischbach,1,2, G. Perry 4,5; 1.Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; 2. Department of Electron Microscopy Research Center, College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; 3. Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
4.Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; 5College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA)

Chapter 10: Role of Apolipoprotein E in Neurodegeneration;pp. 265-279
(C. Lovati, University of Milan, Ospedale L. Sacco, Milan, Italy)

Index