[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 700-710, January 1, 2012]

Linking atherosclerosis to Alzheimer's disease: focus on biomarkers

Enzo Emanuele1, Valentina Martinelli1, Vera Abbiati1, Giovanni Ricevuti2,3

1Department of Health Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Pavia, Azienda Servizi alla Persona, IDR S.Margherita, Via Emilia 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy ,3Cellular Patophisiology and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. C-reactive protein
4. Homocysteine
5. Cystatin C
6. Lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein(a)
7. Soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (sRAGE)
8. Osteoprotegerin
9. Miscellaneous markers
10. Imaging biomarkers of atherosclerosis in Alzheimer's disease
11. Open issues
12. Perspectives
13. References

1. ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an important vascular component, ultimately resulting in dementia. Recent years have witnessed an enormous interest in the field of biomarkers in medicine both in the field of atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration. Numerous studies have recently reported altered levels of biomarkers of atherosclerotic vascular disease in patients with AD. This review provides an overview of clinical studies assessing biomarkers of atherosclerosis/vascular disease in the serum/plasma of patients with AD and highlights future directions in the field. The study of specific biomarkers of atherosclerosis in AD can contribute to identify different components of the pathophysiology and the complex mechanisms underlying the progression of the disease.