From the National Institute on Aging:
Biomarkers are measures of what is happening inside the living body, shown by the results of laboratory and imaging tests. Biomarkers can help doctors and scientists diagnose diseases and health conditions, find health risks in a person, monitor responses to treatment, and see how a person’s disease or health condition changes over time.
Many types of biomarker tests, such as PET and MRI imaging and collection of cerebrospinal fluid, are used for research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. They can help detect brain changes and identify people who are at the greatest risk of Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
Wondering about biomarker tests or procedures? Visit the National Institute on Aging’s website to learn more about:
- Types of biomarkers and tests
- What each test or procedure is like, when it’s used, and what it shows
- How biomarkers are used in diagnosis and research
