Plasma P-Tau181 for the Discrimination of Alzheimer's Disease from Other Primary Dementing and/or Movement Disorders

Biomolecules. 2022 Aug 10;12(8):1099. doi: 10.3390/biom12081099.

Abstract

Blood phospho-tau181 may offer a useful biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. However, the use of either serum or plasma phospho-tau181 and their diagnostic value are currently under intense investigation. In a pilot study, we measured both serum and plasma phospho-tau181 (pT181-Tau) by single molecule array (Simoa) in a group of patients with Alzheimer's disease and a mixed group of patients with other primary dementing and/or movement disorders. Classical cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers were also measured. Plasma (but not serum) pT181-Tau showed a significant increase in Alzheimer's disease and correlated significantly with cerebrospinal fluid amyloid and pT181-Tau. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed a significant discrimination of Alzheimer's from non-Alzheimer's disease patients, with an area under the curve of 0.83 and an excellent sensitivity but a moderate specificity. Plasma pT181-Tau is not an established diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, but it could become one in the future, or it may serve as a screening tool for specific cases of patients or presymptomatic subjects.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; biomarkers; dementia; phospho-tau; plasma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • Humans
  • Movement Disorders*
  • Pilot Projects
  • tau Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • tau Proteins

Grants and funding

S.J.T. has received research funding by a grant from the Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research ERA-NET NEURON JTC 2019 and Greek national funds through the EPANEK, under the priority axis: Enhancing entrepreneurship with sectoral priorities (project number: MIS 5075033). E.K. has received research funding from ELPEN Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. and NUTRICIA (funding numbers: 33/22-10-20 and 726/20-11-20, respectively).