Blood Test Predicts Alzheimer's Early

Researchers at Mass General Brigham, led by Hyun-Sik Yang and Jasmeer Chhatwal, have discovered that a blood test for plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) can predict Alzheimer's disease progression years before symptoms or changes appear on amyloid PET scans. This prospective cohort study, which followed 317 cognitively healthy older adults from the Harvard Aging Brain Study for an average of eight years, found that higher pTau217 levels predicted faster amyloid and tau accumulation and cognitive decline. This finding suggests that pTau217 is an earlier and more accessible biomarker than previously thought, potentially serving as a scalable screening tool for clinical trials and routine health maintenance. The United States — Food and Drug Administration had previously cleared the first blood test for Alzheimer's, paving the way for such advancements. The study was supported by grants from the United States — National Institutes of Health and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund.