This book explores international biomedical research and development on the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. It offers timely, multidisciplinary reflections on the social and ethical issues raised by promises of early diagnostics and asks under which conditions emerging diagnostic technologies can be considered a responsible innovation.
The initial chapters in this edited volume provide an overview and a critical discussion of recent developments in biomedical research on Alzheimer's disease. Subsequent contributions explore the values at stake in current practices of dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, both within and outside the biomedical domain. Novel diagnostic technologies for Alzheimer's disease emerge in a complex and shifting field, full of controversies. Innovating with care requires a precise mapping of how concepts, values and responsibilities are filled in through the confrontation of practices. In doing so, the volumeoffers a practice-based approach of responsible innovation that is also applicable to other fields of innovation.

Autorentext
Marianne Boenink is Assistant Professor at the Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, The Netherlands. Her research focuses on the philosophical and ethical issues posed by emerging biomedical technologies. She has published on the ethics of predictive testing, concepts of disease in molecular medicine, and methods for ethics of emerging technologies.
Harro van Lente is Full Professor of Science and Technology Studies at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. He was trained in physics and philosophy and he studies the dynamics of emerging technologies. He has published widely on the sociology of expectations, technology assessment, foresight, sustainability and the politics of knowledge production.
Ellen Moors is Full Professor of Sustainable Innovation at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Her research focuses on technology dynamics and governance of lifesciences innovations, the role of users and institutions in emerging technologies, and sustainable or responsible health innovation business models.

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Introduction; Marianne Boenink, Harro van Lente and Ellen Moors.- Part I. Biomedical Research on AD Diagnostics: Background and Trends.- Chapter 2. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's: Are We Being (Ir)responsible?; Peter J. Whitehouse.- Chapter 3. On Short Cuts: The Complexity of Studying the Early Diagnosis and Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease; Annette Leibing.- Chapter 4. Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease: Searching for the Missing Link Between Biology and Clinic; Marianne Boenink.- Chapter 5. Care and Responsibility in Building Futures for Alzheimer's Disease Research; Richard Milne and Shirlene Badger.- Part II. Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease: Current Practices.- Chapter 6. Grey matters. Emergent biomarkers and good Alzheimer's diagnostics; Anna Laura van der Laan.- Chapter 7. Understanding Cognitive Screening Tools: Navigating Uncertainty in Everyday Clinical Practice; Julia Swallowds Responsible Health Technology Assessment; Ellen Moors and Alexander Peine.- Chapter 14. Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease: How to Innovate with Care; Marianne Boenink, Harro van Lente and Ellen Moors.