Biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition impacting cognition and daily function.
• Early diagnosis and monitoring of AD progression are vital for effective management.
• Current AD diagnostic tools are often invasive and costly; blood biomarkers offer a scalable alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate plasma concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), phosphorylated tau-181 (ptau181), and phosphorylated tau-217 (pTau217).
• To assess the potential of these biomarkers in tracking Alzheimer's disease progression over two years.

Main Methods:

• Plasma concentrations of GFAP and ptau181 were measured using the SIMOA Quanterix instrument.
• Plasma concentrations of pTau217 were measured using chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) on the Lumipulse G1200 platform.
• Longitudinal analysis was performed to identify trends in biomarker concentrations over time.

Main Results:

• Longitudinal analysis indicated a gradual increase in concentrations for some candidate biomarkers over two years.
• No statistically significant differences in biomarker levels were observed between disease states during the study period.
• Trends suggest potential utility, though larger sample sizes are needed for statistical validation.

Conclusions:

• The observed trends in biomarker concentrations warrant further investigation with larger cohorts.
• Phosphorylated tau-217 (pTau217) shows promise as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease progression due to its correlation with amyloid status.
• Continued research into pTau217 is recommended for its potential in AD diagnostics and monitoring.