Table 5 Proposed classification of the biomarkers here reviewed that proved diagnostic or prognostic significance according to level of evidence, clinical utility and reproducibility

From: Biomarkers for cognitive impairment in alpha-synucleinopathies: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

 

Type of biomarker

Level of evidence1

Clinical utility2

Reproducibility3

Clinical/research application

Diagnostic/prognostic yield

Non-invasiveness

Accessibility

Diagnosis

Neuroimaging

Atrophy of the insula, and frontal and temporal lobes

B2

C

+

+

-

+

Altered DMN activity

B2

R

-

+

-

-

Higher PET tau-binding in the entorhinal region

B2

C

+

+

-

-

Neurophysiology

EEG/MEG cortical rhythm slowing

B2

C

+

+

+

+

Abnormal connectivity measures

B2

R

-

+

-

-

Reduced SAI

B2

C

+

+

-

+

Increased SICI, reduced ICF

B2

C

+

+

-

+

Delayed P300 latency

B2

R

-

+

-

+

Biofluids – CSF

Increased albumin quotient

B2

C

-

-

-

+

Anormal amyloid and tau biomarkers

B2

C

+

-

-

+

Biofluids – plasma/serum

Increased albumin quotient

B2

C

-

+

+

+

Increased homocysteine, cystatin C

B2

C

-

+

+

+

Decreased vitamin B12 and folate

B2

C

-

+

+

+

Increased NfL

B2

C

+

+

-

-

Prognosis

Neuroimaging

Atrophy of the hippocampus, fronto-temporal lobes, caudate, thalamus, NAcc, WM

B2

C

+

+

-

+

Neurophysiology

EEG/MEG cortical rhythm slowing

B2

C

+

+

+

+

Biofluids - CSF

Abnormal amyloid biomarkers

B2

C

+

-

-

+

Genetics

BDNF Val66Met polymorphism

B2

R

+

+

-

+

APOE ε2/ε4 alleles

B2

C

+

+

-

+

  1. APOE apolipoprotein E gene, BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor, C clinical, CSF cerebrospinal fluid, DMN default mode network, EEG electroencephalography, ICF intracortical facilitation, MEG magnetoencephalography, NAcc nucleus accumbens, NfL neurofilament light chain, PET positron emission tomography, R research, SAI short afferent inhibition, SICI short-interval intracortical inhibition, WM white matter.
  2. 1Level of evidence defined according to the following classification 106: A = proven/consensus association in human medicine; B1 = prospective, randomized clinical trial; B2 = cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort biomarker studies; B3 = retrospective biomarker studies; C = individual case reports from clinical journals; D = in vivo or in vitro models support associations; E = indirect evidence.
  3. 2Clinical utility, i.e., the actual usefulness/added value of the biomarker in clinical routine considering the defined context of use (i.e., clinical, research), diagnostic/prognostic yield (i.e., + = definite, - = uncertain), non-invasiveness (i.e., + = non-invasive, - = invasive) and accessibility (i.e., + = available in both primary and specialized care centers; - = access limited to some primary and specialized care centers or available only in specialized care centers).
  4. 3Reproducibility has been defined according to standardization and interoperability (i.e., + = established, - = unclear or not defined).