Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a biomarker test that can detect small amounts of the tau protein, which is linked to cognitive impairment, years before it appears on a brain scan. The test, published in “Nature Medicine,” suggests the findings could lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
The tau protein forms tangles within brain cells, leading to cognitive decline and brain atrophy. While amyloid beta protein, which builds up into plaques around brain cells, is often targeted by treatments, research has shown that these therapies are less effective once the tau protein starts to accumulate. The new test can identify the early stages of tau clumping in spinal fluid, potentially identifying patients who may be at risk of cognitive decline.
The test’s accuracy was confirmed through studies of Alzheimer’s patients who were followed during their final years and those still living, with brain scans and spinal fluid tests. Researchers hope that the test will provide a roadmap for future treatments targeting the tau protein.
According to Dr. Thomas Karikari, senior author of the study, “Early detection of tangle-prone tau could identify individuals likely to develop Alzheimer’s-associated cognitive decline and be helped with new generation therapies.” The research collaboration involved nearly 30 researchers across several institutions and plans to develop a blood test to detect both tau and amyloid proteins in its next phase.
Source: https://www.wesa.fm/health-science-tech/2025-02-10/pittsburgh-researchers-develop-alzheimers-biomarker-test