There is ongoing research in the area of developing pharmaceuticals for Alzheimer’s Disease. Several new drugs are currently being tested on patients. If these trials are to show favourable results the need for a method to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease at an early stage arises, as potential treatments need to be initiated in the early stages of the disease, in order to reach an optimal effect. In addition, an early diagnosis also offers the patient the opportunity to make lifestyle changes and prepare, both mentally and practically, for the future.
At present, several clinical examinations are needed for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. There is, however, ongoing research in the development of tests for the identification of biomarkers, such as amyloid-beta peptides, in blood.
This assessment aims to describe the state of research in the area and to evaluate different methods of identifying and analysing biomarkers in blood. The study population comprises of people seeking care for memory problems. The outcome that will be assessed is the diagnostic accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Both ethical and social aspects, as well as aspects concerned with health economics, will be reviewed.
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