A biomarker, such as protein accumulation as an indicator of disease, can be used to predict disease manifestation, determine intervention, and monitor treatment efficacy. Biomarker development frequently focuses on early detection of disease as this is typically considered the only or most pressing need. However, the ideal time point for biomarker use may not always be early in disease but instead, as we will discuss, could be when enough information is available to predict the association between biomarker (protein accumulation) and disease manifestation (symptom severity, progression, prognosis). This Viewpoint highlights the importance of clearly defining the notion of “time” when discussing the development and utility of biomarkers. Using two disease examples, one with a clearly defined starting point (traumatic brain injury) and one with an indistinct starting point (Alzheimer’s disease), we explore the concept of timing in biomarker development and utility.

中文翻译：

---

时间将证明生物标志物的效用。

生物标志物（例如蛋白质积累作为疾病的指示剂）可用于预测疾病表现，确定干预措施并监测治疗效果。生物标志物的开发通常着重于疾病的早期发现，因为这通常被认为是唯一或最紧迫的需求。但是，使用生物标志物的理想时间点可能并不总是在疾病早期，而是如我们将讨论的那样，当有足够的信息来预测生物标志物（蛋白质积累）与疾病表现（症状严重程度，进展，预后）。该观点强调了在讨论生物标志物的开发和实用性时明确定义“时间”概念的重要性。用两个疾病的例子