Today, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease relies on a battery of tests and examinations: neuropsychological assessment, MRI, neurological examination, lumbar puncture...
Researchers are currently working on identifying new biomarkers to develop less invasive and simpler techniques.
A specific form of Tau protein This is the case for scientists at Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona who have been particularly interested in a specific form of the Tau protein, P-tau217, already used as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease in cerebrospinal fluid. The team decided to assess the usefulness of this biomarker in blood plasma.
By analyzing data from 787 patients from three observational cohorts (one in Canada, one in the United States, and the third in Spain), researchers observed that this technique was effective with an accuracy of over 90% in detecting the presence of Alzheimer's disease.
These results demonstrate that the P-tau217 biomarker offers a precision comparable to cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. It provides a more accessible and less invasive alternative for early diagnosis — and thus management — of dementia.
According to Dr. Daniel Alcolea from Sant Pau Hospital, "Of all the biomarkers currently being studied for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, this one has shown the best results."