۱- Introduction

۲- Conclusion

References

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is becoming a threat to aging population all over the world. The pathogenic process of AD is likely initiated many years before clinical onset, thus biomarkers for AD diagnosis are critical for the prevention and therapy for the disease at the early stage in order to reduce the global burden brought by the disease. Saliva is treated as a potential alternative and universal diagnostic fluid that can be collected noninvasively by participants with moderate training and without side effects. Several potential salivary biomarkers, which might prove to be significant diagnostic tools in AD, have been researched. We address here the present and the future of these salivary biological biomarkers for AD.

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common of the neurodegenerative diseases among the aging population, characterized by progressive memory impairment, significant cognitive deficits and irreversible changes in personality and behavior. Although the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the etiology and pathogenesis of AD have not been defined, research has revealed that the main pathological characteristics of AD are amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation and the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, which eventually develop into senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangles. Together with associated processes, such as inflammation and oxidative stress, these pathological cascades contribute to progressive neurodegeneration (Blennow, de Leon, & Zetterberg, 2006). The majority of AD cases are sporadic late onset types, which are believed to result from environmental factors to a great extent. Age is a significant risk factor for AD. Accompanying the increase in longevity, the prevalence of AD is expected to rise dramatically, causing a large economic and caring burden for health and social services, families, and individuals (Kamer et al., 2008). Thus, it is a great challenge to diagnose and monitor disease progression. A definitive diagnosis of AD currently relies on clinical assessment and pathological evidence only available at postmortem.