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

Disclosure of plasma p-tau217 measure improves diagnostic confidence in patients with Alzheimer's disease versus syndromes associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Authors

Valentina Cantoni, Maria Sofia Cotelli, Matteo Rota, Antonella Alberici, Ilenia Libri, Hanna Huber, Kübra Tan, Roberta Ghidoni, Sonia Bellini, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Nicholas J Ashton, Barbara Borroni

Abstract

Alzheimers Dement. 2025 May;21(5):e70289. doi: 10.1002/alz.70289.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Further research is needed to understand the performance of plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 in the diagnostic thinking at the individual patient level. We evaluated the incremental diagnostic value of plasma p-tau217, expressed in terms of diagnostic confidence of Alzheimer's disease (DCAD; range 0-100).

METHODS: Two hundred thirty-two patients with dementia were included and scored in terms of DCAD in a three-step consecutive assessment: (1) clinical work-up, (2) clinical work-up plus plasma p-tau217, and (3) clinical work-up, plasma p-tau217, plus conventional amyloid markers. Two blinded neurologists were asked to review DCAD at each step.

RESULTS: DCAD accuracy, expressed as area under the curve, significantly increased from 0.93 with clinical work-up alone, to 0.97 with clinical work-up plus plasma p-tau217 (P = 0.01), with no further increase with the addition of conventional amyloid markers (0.99, P = 0.13).

DISCUSSION: Plasma p-tau217 in addition to routine assessment significantly enhances diagnostic confidence that is comparable to well-established amyloidosis biomarkers.

HIGHLIGHTS: Plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 measurements increase diagnostic confidence of Alzheimer's disease. Plasma p-tau217 increases diagnostic confidence comparable to traditional markers. Plasma p-tau217 dosage may be helpful in addition to routine assessment.

PMID:40371667 | DOI:10.1002/alz.70289

UK DRI Authors

Profile picture of Henrik Zetterberg

Prof Henrik Zetterberg

Group Leader

Pioneering the development of fluid biomarkers for dementia

Prof Henrik Zetterberg