Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker for dementia

Although cerebrospinal fluid biomarker testing is incorporated into some current guidelines for the dementia diagnosis (such as England's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)), it is not widely accessible for most patients for whom biomarkers could potentially change management. Keshavan et al. shared the experience of running a clinical cognitive CSF service and discuss recent developments in laboratory testing including the use of the CSF Amyloid beta 42 Amyloid beta 40 ratio and automated assay platforms. They highlighted the importance of collaborative working between clinicians and laboratory staff, of preanalytical sample handling, and discuss the various factors influencing interpretation of the results in appropriate clinical contexts. They advocated for broadening access to CSF biomarkers by sharing clinical expertise, protocols and interpretation with colleagues working in psychiatry and elderly care, especially when access to CSF may be part of a pathway to disease-modifying for Alzheimer's disease treatment and other forms of dementia ¹⁾.