A team of researchers from the Faculty of the University of Washington in St. Louis (United States) and the University of Lund (Sweden) has developed a blood test that allows for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and measures its current level of progression.
Although there are already similar tests, the novelty of this test lies in measuring the progression of the disease, which is crucial because current therapies are more effective in the early stages of the pathology; Additionally, it can indicate whether a person’s symptoms are due to this disease or another cause.
The study, published in the journal «Nature Medicine,» shows that blood levels of the protein MTBR-Tau243 accurately reflect the amount of toxic buildup in the brain and correlate with the severity of Alzheimer’s disease.
By analyzing the blood level of this protein in a group of people with cognitive impairment, researchers were able to distinguish between individuals in early or advanced stages, effectively separating both groups from patients whose symptoms were caused by factors other than the disease.
«This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s Tau tangles, which is the best biomarker for measuring Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia,» said lead co-author Dr. Randall J. Bateman, distinguished professor of neurology Charles F. and Joanne Knight at Washu Medicine.
Furthermore, he noted that there are currently no light or accessible methods to measure Alzheimer’s dementia and Tau tangles, so this test «can provide a much more precise indication» if symptoms are due to Alzheimer’s, helping doctors decide on the most suitable treatments for their patients.
While the accumulation of amyloid protein in brain plaques and the development of these tangles occur as they become detectable and worsen as Tau protein spreads; To diagnose the disease, positron emission tomography (PET) scans for amyloid plaques are typically used, although they are expensive, time-consuming, and generally not available outside major research centers.
Scientists compared the results of the blood test with brain scans, showing that these new tests have an accuracy of 92 percent and use Washu-licensed technology in C2N diagnostics, an emerging company from Washu that has developed blood tests for amyloid and incorporates measurements of another biomarker, P-Tau217.
«I believe we will use P-Tau217 in the blood to determine if a person has Alzheimer’s, but MTBR-Tau243 will be a very valuable complement in clinical and research tests,» said co-lead author Oskar Hansson, professor of neurology at Lund University.
Subsequently, he explained that when both biomarkers are positive, the likelihood that Alzheimer’s is the cause of a person’s cognitive symptoms increases significantly, compared to only P-Tau217 being abnormal, something «crucial» in selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient.
On the other hand, associate research professor in neurology at Washu Medicine and one of the lead researchers, Kanta Horie, emphasized that the goal is to enter the era of personalized medicine for Alzheimer’s.
«In the early stages with low Tau levels, anti-amyloid therapies may be more effective than in advanced stages. But after the onset of dementia with the disease, doctors can optimize their treatment plans according to the specific needs of each patient,» he added.
The research was funded by the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Charles F. and Joanne Knight; Tracy Family Silq Center; National Institutes of Health (NIH); Alzheimer’s Association Zenith Award; Hope Center for Neurological Disorders; and the Department of Neurology at Washu.
The Swedish Biofinder-2 study, which included patient data used for comparison, was funded by Parkinson’s disease research at Lund University, the Swedish Alzheimer’s Foundation, the Swedish Brain Foundation, the Alzheimer Foundation, the Röström Foundation, the Konung Gustaf V: s Regional Forskneingings ö, the Swedish Federal Government, the Horizon 2020 Innovation and Innovation Program of the European Union, the Alzheimerfonden Alzheimer’s Association, BrightFocus Foundation, Greta and Johan Kocks, and the Strategic Research Area of Multipark (Multidisciplinary Research in Parkinson’s Disease) at Lund University.
