Two-step blood-test approach helps clarify uncertain brain amyloid status
Blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) are blood tests that can detect Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain changes earlier, more cheaply and more easily than traditional methods such as Aβ-PET scans, which are expensive and have limited accessibility. However, blood tests do not always give a clear yes-or-no answer. One of the most promising blood markers, called p-Tau217, can leave a substantial number of…
Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis can be challenging due to the limited accessibility and cost of traditional imaging methods like Aβ-PET scans. However, blood tests like p-Tau217 offer an earlier and cheaper detection method. A research team from Boston University and the University of Connecticut has developed a two-step blood-testing strategy called the Gatekeeper‐Reflex model for AD (GRAD) to address the uncertainty surrounding p-Tau217 results.
While promising, the researchers caution that GRAD is not ready for routine clinical use and needs further testing. GRAD focuses on testing p-Tau217 first, and if the result is unclear, it adds additional blood biomarkers and genetic factors to make a more accurate diagnosis. In an independent study of 1,644 cognitively unimpaired adults, GRAD improved amyloid classification among those with uncertain results and reduced the need for expensive PET imaging.
The researchers hope that GRAD can help identify which patients need confirmatory testing, making Alzheimer's testing more efficient and reducing the need for invasive procedures.
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