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Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
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Biomarkers
Yarovinsky Natalya1,2, Rafi Hadad3,4, Iris Heller3
1Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|December 25, 2025
Summary
Diagnosing cognitive decline requires comprehensive biomarker analysis. Including autoimmune encephalopathy in differential diagnoses can be life-saving for patients with cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Accurate diagnosis of cognitive decline is crucial for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Advancements enable measurement of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) biomarkers and autoimmune antibodies.
- A comprehensive assessment approach was implemented starting June 2020.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive diagnostic approach for cognitive impairment.
- To achieve accurate clinic-biological diagnoses of underlying etiologies.
- To differentiate neurodegenerative from autoimmune causes of cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- 131 patients with cognitive/behavioral deterioration underwent lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis.
- CSF analysis included cell count, protein, glucose, chloride, cytology, AD biomarkers (tau, p-tau, Aβ42), and antibody panels.
- Assessments incorporated neurological, cognitive evaluations, and imaging.
Main Results:
- 59% of 120 subjects tested positive for AD biomarkers.
- 15% of 92 subjects tested positive for paraneoplastic antibodies, with 8 having biomarker-confirmed AD and 6 non-AD pathology.
- Two patients with positive AD biomarkers and paraneoplastic antibodies died within 77 months; 6 received immune treatment, and 5 were diagnosed with cancer.
Conclusions:
- Biomarkers are valuable in diagnosing cognitive and behavioral impairments, preventing misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.
- Autoimmune encephalopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cognitive decline.
- Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment for autoimmune conditions can be life-saving.
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