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Table 3 CSF biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases

From: Relevance of biomarkers across different neurodegenerative diseases

Biomarker

Target

Advantages

Disadvantages

Aβ42

Amyloid-β peptides

Strong correlation with 11C-PiB PET status

Different cutoff values used in different labs

Aβ40

Amyloid-β peptides

Added value when combined with Aβ42

Not a clinically meaningful biomarker in isolation

Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio

Amyloid-β peptides

Stronger diagnostic and prognostic value than Aβ42 alone

Not yet widely implemented

Aβ42/Aβ38 ratio

Amyloid-β peptides

Stronger diagnostic and prognostic value than Aβ42 alone

Not yet widely implemented

t-Tau

Tau peptides

Reasonably sensitive for late-stage AD

Poor specificity, not clinically useful in isolation

p-Thr181 tau

Tau peptides

Reasonably sensitive for late-stage AD

Poor specificity, not clinically useful in isolation

NfL

White matter damage

Indicates the presence of neurodegeneration

Increased in multiple neurodegenerative diseases

  1. Abbreviations: Aβ amyloid-β, NfL neurofilament light chain