Cut-points and gray zones: The challenges of integrating Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers into clinical practice

IF 13 1区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Alzheimer's & Dementia Pub Date : 2025-03-27 DOI:10.1002/alz.70113

Jemma Hazan, Kathy Y. Liu, Jeremy D. Isaacs, Robert Howard

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Abstract

Plasma biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD), such as plasma phosphorylated (p)-tau217, offer a more accessible means of testing for the presence of AD pathology compared to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or positron emission tomography (PET) methods. They can support diagnostic assessment and determine patient eligibility for treatment with amyloid beta–lowering drugs in community settings where access to CSF examination and amyloid-PET are limited. However, there are important challenges associated with interpreting and integrating plasma biomarker results in clinical practice. This article explores different approaches to interpreting plasma biomarker results in secondary care, important potential sources of uncertainty, and considerations for their clinical application.

Highlights

Plasma biomarkers such as phosphorylated tau-217 (p-tau217) offer a promising, accessible alternative to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and positron emission tomography (PET) for detecting Alzheimer's disease pathology, especially in settings with limited diagnostic resources.
Clinical integration of plasma biomarker testing presents challenges, particularly in interpreting results. This includes uncertainties around intermediate results and their role in patient management.
Clear frameworks and guidelines are essential to optimize the use of plasma biomarkers, supported by further research and education to ensure effective application in clinical practice.

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来源期刊

Alzheimer's & Dementia 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

14.50

自引率

5.00%

发文量

299

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Alzheimer's & Dementia is a peer-reviewed journal that aims to bridge knowledge gaps in dementia research by covering the entire spectrum, from basic science to clinical trials to social and behavioral investigations. It provides a platform for rapid communication of new findings and ideas, optimal translation of research into practical applications, increasing knowledge across diverse disciplines for early detection, diagnosis, and intervention, and identifying promising new research directions. In July 2008, Alzheimer's & Dementia was accepted for indexing by MEDLINE, recognizing its scientific merit and contribution to Alzheimer's research.