Third, variations in biomarker measurements among different labs need to be overcome by establishing a consensus among experts involved in biomarker research – the ‘Delphi method’. This will facilitate identification of the challenges associated with standardization of the protocols and disparities in techniques. Fourth, multi centre studies read me such as ADNI and EADNI are needed. These studies should adopt standardized neuropsychological assessments, identical protocols, and uniform methods of analysis and interpretation of data. Fifth, combinations of blood biomarkers, risk factors, imaging, neuropsychological measures and clinical data should be critically evaluated. The major benefit from a successful multiplex blood biomarker approach in AD would be to provide an inexpensive and minimally invasive diagnostic test capable of monitoring changes over time and responses to clinical interventions.

Note This article is part of a series on Peripheral Biomarkers, edited by Douglas Galasko. Other articles in this series can be found at http://alzres.com/series/biomarkers Abbreviations A??: amyloid beta; AD: Alzheimer’s disease; AIBL: Australian Imaging Biomarkers Lifestyle; apo: apolipoprotein; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IL: interleukin; MCI: mild cognitive impairment; MS: mass spectroscopy. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Acknowledgements VBG acknowledges Edith Cowan University for her salary support. RS is currently supported as a visiting scientist by McCusker foundation.

Core funding for the AIBL related work mentioned in this manuscript was provided by CSIRO, which was supplemented by “in kind” contributions from study partners. The McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation Inc. contributed financial and in kind support to AIBL.
Despite existing treatments and recent advances in potential targets for pharmacological interventions, there remains a great Carfilzomib unmet need in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Progress toward new therapeutic agents is hampered by difficulties in the related issues of measurement of disease/symptom pathology and prediction of disease course, both of which impact many facets of drug development including study design, power and sample size calculations, and interpretability of results.

Difficulties in measurement and prediction are even more pronounced when moving into a milder or presymptomatic patient population. A symposium held at the Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease conference in Monte Carlo, Monaco (29 to 31 October 2012) selleck chemicals Imatinib Mesylate dealt with some of these issues, emphasizing the potential of different modeling approaches. Modeling the course of AD at different stages of its development, from the presymptomatic stages to severe dementia, is assumed to contribute to better planning and design of future clinical trials.