Current Use and Future Potential of Blood Biomarkers for Advancing Alzheimer Diagnosis: Rebecca M. Edelmayer, PhD

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

"Blood biomarkers will never be a standalone test for Alzheimer but are likely to become a crucial part of early diagnosis, aiding in timely access to treatments."

The timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer Disease (AD) continues to be a challenge in both primary and secondary care, partially because of inconsistent access to diagnostic tests. Recently, plasma p-tau217 has emerged as a leading blood-based biomarker for detecting AD-related neuropathologic changes. In prior studies, plasma p-tau217 has showed high concordance with amyloid positron emission tomography and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker positivity and was elevated in patients presenting with early symptomatic AD, including mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. Thus, this biomarker may hold promise for use in clinical settings to facilitate more equitable, accessible, and timely diagnosis of AD.

Research also has demonstrated that plasma p-tau217 can potentially help with identifying patients who may be suitable candidates for anti-amyloid immunotherapy. Given the high volume of clinical studies focusing on p-tau217, a range of p-tau217 assays are now either in advanced development or commercially available for clinical use. However, important questions remain about the present and future roles of this diagnostic tool. Key areas requiring further exploration include the standardization and establishment of minimum performance criteria, guidelines for appropriate use, interpretation across diverse populations and those with clinical comorbidities, and considerations for widespread implementation and access.

At the 2024 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference, held October 29 to November 1, in Madrid, Spain, Rebecca M. Edelmayer, PhD, vice president of scientific engagement at Alzheimer's Association, participated in a roundtable focused on the plasma P-tau217 assays. Following the session, Edelmayer sat down with NeurologyLive^® to talk about how plasma p-tau217 assays are currently being integrated into clinical practice for AD diagnosis, and the early downstream effects seen on patient care. She also spoke about the challenges that clinicians may face when using them, and how these limitations might be addressed in the future. In looking ahead, Edelmayer discussed how she envisions plasma P-tau217 assays to influence the early detection and treatment pathways for AD.

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REFERENCES
1. Suárez-Calvet M, Braunstein JB, Beck R, et al. Plasma P-Tau217 Assays In Clinical Practice: Current Uses And Future Considerations For Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease. Presented at: 2024 CTAD; October 29-November 1; Madrid, Spain. LBRT1.