Plasma biomarkers and incident clinical stage progression in the specialized memory clinic: a longitudinal study
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The utility of blood based Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in predicting clinical trajectories remains uncertain. METHODS: We assessed the diagnostic and prognostic performance of p-tau181, p-tau217, GFAP, and NfL in a large memory□clinic cohort (n=3,645) with comprehensive baseline clinical evaluation and annual follow□up for up to three decades. RESULTS: P-tau217, p-tau181 and GFAP were associated with amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology, while all biomarkers were elevated in AD and all-cause dementia. P-tau217 significantly outperformed others in detecting Aβ pathology and clinical AD but performed similarly to NfL and GFAP for all-cause dementia. Prognostically, p□tau217 demonstrated the strongest association with cognitive decline, followed by GFAP and NfL, and best predicted progression status at 5□ and 10□ year intervals. All biomarkers provided added prognostic value beyond demographic and genetic covariates. DISCUSSION: These findings support plasma biomarkers for disease identification and risk stratification while underscoring the need for population□specific approaches.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Xuemei Zeng, Nicholas Heaton, Rebecca A. Deek, Michel N. Nafash, Marissa F. Farinas, Lamia T. Choity, Wasiu G. Balogun, Ruyu Shi, Margaret A. Bedison, Brian J. Lopresti, Cristy Matan, Neelesh K. Nadkarni, Alexandra Gogola, C. Elizabeth Shaaban, Howard J. Aizenstein, Dana L. Tudorascu, Tharick A. Pascoal, Victor L. Villemagne, Sarah B. Berman, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Robert A. Sweet, Julia K. Kofler, Beth E. Snitz, M. Ilyas Kamboh, Ann D. Cohen, Oscar L. Lopez, Thomas K. Karikari
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Genetic Architecture of Alzheimer’s disease Proteinopathies, The role of astrogliosis in aging and the pathological and clinical progression of Alzheimer's Disease, G2442294994, Deep Resequencing of Candidate Gene Regions in Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease, Myosteatosis, Cognition and Blood Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Persons of African Ancestry, Neurobiology of Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly, G3880778400, Search for the Alzheimers Genes, G5989133034, G9000216768, G9000300274, Alzheimer Diagnosis in older Adults with Chronic Conditions ADACC Network, Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Longitudinal multicenter head-to-head harmonization of tau PET tracers, Head-to-head comparisons of high-performance plasma phospho-tau epitopes for the detection of Alzheimer's disease, The RAW Brain - The Effect of Rumination, Anxiety and Worry on Aging and Dementia Risk, Brain CHEC-AC (Brain and Cognitive Health Equity Campaign for Allegheny County), Roles of Gray Matter Brain Aging and Small Vessel Disease in AD Pathophysiology
OpenAlex ID: W7223157559