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Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Published

Biomarker discovery in Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases using Nucleic Acid Linked Immuno-Sandwich Assay

Authors

Nicholas J Ashton, Andrea L Benedet, Guglielmo Di Molfetta, Ilaria Pola, Federica Anastasi, Aida Fernández-Lebrero, Albert Puig-Pijoan, Ashvini Keshavan, Jonathan Schott, Kubra Tan, Joel Simrén, Bárbara Fernandes Gomes, Laia Montoliu-Gaya, Richard Isaacson, Matilde Bongianni, Chiara Tolassi, Valentina Cantoni, Antonella Alberici, Alessandro Padovani, Gianluigi Zanusso, Andrea Pilotto, Barbara Borroni, Marc Suárez-Calvet, Kaj Blennow, Henrik Zetterberg

Abstract

Alzheimers Dement. 2025 May;21(5):e14621. doi: 10.1002/alz.14621.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Recent advancements in immunological methods accurately quantify biofluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Despite progress, more biomarkers, ideally in blood, are needed for effective disease monitoring for AD and other neurodegenerative proteinopathies.

METHODS: We used the Nucleic Acid Linked Immuno-Sandwich Assay (NULISA) central nervous system panel for biomarker quantification in plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment, Lewy body dementia, progranulin (GRN) mutation carriers.

RESULTS: NULISA identified phosphorylated tau217 and neurofilament light chain as the most deregulated biomarkers in the AD continuum and GRN mutation carriers, respectively. Importantly, numerous novel proteomic changes were observed in each disease endophenotype, which included synaptic processing, inflammation, microglial reactivity, TAR DNA-binding protein 43, and α-synuclein pathology.

DISCUSSION: We underline the potential of next-generation biomarker identification tools to detect novel proteomic features that also incorporate established biomarkers. These findings highlight the importance of continued biomarker discovery to improve treatment decisions and help us better understand the complexities of neurodegenerative disorders.

HIGHLIGHTS: The, direct, or indirect, measures in blood that complement phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 for other proteinopathies or disease progression are urgently needed. Significant novel proteomic changes were observed in each disease endophenotype in plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid, which included proteins involved in synaptic processing, inflammation, microglial reactivity, TAR DNA-binding protein 43, and α-synuclein pathology. Nucleic Acid Linked Immuno-Sandwich Assay continued to unbiasely highlight p-tau217 and neurofilament light chain as the most significantly deregulated blood biomarkers in the Alzheimer's disease continuum and progranulin mutation carriers, respectively.

PMID:40401628 | DOI:10.1002/alz.14621

UK DRI Authors

Jon Schott profile

Prof Jonathan Schott

Group Leader

Clinical academic specialising in dementia, with a focus on early accurate diagnosis, detection of pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, and promoting healthy cognitive ageing.

Prof Jonathan Schott
Profile picture of Henrik Zetterberg

Prof Henrik Zetterberg

Group Leader

Pioneering the development of fluid biomarkers for dementia

Prof Henrik Zetterberg