TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal biomarker studies in human neuroimaging: capturing biological change of Alzheimer's pathology
AU - Fischer, Larissa
AU - Parker, Dana
AU - Maboudian, Samira
AU - Fonseca, Corrina
AU - Tato-Fernández, Claudia
AU - Annen, Lucie
AU - Arunachalam, Prithvi
AU - Bacci, Julia R
AU - Barboure, Michelle
AU - Capelli, Serena
AU - Karagianni, Stamatia
AU - Collij, Lyduine E
AU - Edison, Paul
AU - Fox, Nick C
AU - Franzmeier, Nicolai
AU - Grothe, Michel J
AU - Jagust, William J
AU - Maass, Anne
AU - Malpetti, Maura
AU - Paterson, Ross W
AU - Sogorb-Esteve, Aitana
AU - Schöll, Michael
PY - 2025/12/4
Y1 - 2025/12/4
N2 - Despite extensive research, open questions about the biological underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remain. Neuroimaging biomarkers based on positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer in vivo insights into these complex biological changes and interactions. However, most evidence to date comes from cross-sectional studies, limiting our understanding of disease progression. Longitudinal studies enable the investigation of biological changes within individuals, revealing how pathology evolves over time. With this review, we provide an overview of how longitudinal imaging biomarker studies have advanced the field and how they can contribute to future research. We highlight longitudinal biomarker studies that have provided critical insights into disease trajectories, staging, and individual variability. We further assess longitudinal multimodal studies which have elucidated interactions between AD-specific pathology, amyloid-β and tau, and broader biological changes like neurodegeneration, neuronal dysfunction, vascular disease, and inflammation. Further, we discuss associations of brain changes with symptomatology and clinical outcomes and conclude with challenges and future directions.
AB - Despite extensive research, open questions about the biological underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remain. Neuroimaging biomarkers based on positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer in vivo insights into these complex biological changes and interactions. However, most evidence to date comes from cross-sectional studies, limiting our understanding of disease progression. Longitudinal studies enable the investigation of biological changes within individuals, revealing how pathology evolves over time. With this review, we provide an overview of how longitudinal imaging biomarker studies have advanced the field and how they can contribute to future research. We highlight longitudinal biomarker studies that have provided critical insights into disease trajectories, staging, and individual variability. We further assess longitudinal multimodal studies which have elucidated interactions between AD-specific pathology, amyloid-β and tau, and broader biological changes like neurodegeneration, neuronal dysfunction, vascular disease, and inflammation. Further, we discuss associations of brain changes with symptomatology and clinical outcomes and conclude with challenges and future directions.
U2 - 10.1186/s13195-025-01920-6
DO - 10.1186/s13195-025-01920-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 41340156
SN - 1758-9193
JO - ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
JF - ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
ER -