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A study led by the Lund University (Sweden) with participation of BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation has confirmed that a blood test based on the biomarker p-tau217 has made it possible to effectively identify people without cognitive impairment but with amyloid accumulation, one of the main brain alterations of Alzheimer’s.
The work, published in the magazine Jama Neurologyhas used samples of 2,916 participants without symptoms of cognitive impairment, among which 395 adults cognitively healthy of the Alfa+ cohort, which is part of the BBRC Alfa study, promoted by the La Caixa Foundation, the Pasqual Maragall Foundation reports in a statement this Thursday.
The results add to current evidence and “reinforce potential” of blood biomarkers as a tool for early detection of the disease.
81% accuracy
Research shows that detection of p-tau217 in plasma offers an accuracy of 81% to correctly identify amyloid beta positivity, suggesting that it is “a good method” screening to select patients for clinical trials.
When combined with a second confirmatory test (a PET scan or cerebrospinal fluid analysis), accuracy increases up to 91%.
The two-step approach is “very effective” to reduce false positives while substantially reducing cost and burden for patients.
Continue investigating
The authors of the study point out that still need to continue research to establish reliable and generalizable cut-off values of the biomarker, as well as validate the results in more diverse populations.
Still, the discoveries reveal “the clinical utility of p-tau217 in plasma as a screening tool for the early detection of Alzheimer’sthe selection of participants in clinical trials and, in the future, to guide access to disease-modifying treatments.
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