A new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia has found that a blood test measuring plasma p-tau217 is highly accurate in detecting beta-amyloid (Aβ) pathology, a key marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—even in individuals with cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), a condition common in many Asian populations.
The findings represent a significant step toward more accessible, earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, especially in countries like Singapore where CeVD is widespread.
Led by Dr. Mitchell Lai of the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the study brought together experts from several top research institutions, including the National University Health System (NUHS), University of Gothenburg, University College London, and the Banner Sun Health Research Institute.
The team focused on a Singapore-based cohort, which better reflects Asian populations compared to many previous Western-centric studies.
Blood-based biomarkers like p-tau217 have shown great promise in Western settings, but there has been concern about how well they work in populations with a high burden of cerebrovascular disease—a known contributor to cognitive decline that often overlaps with Alzheimer’s.
This study confirmed that plasma p-tau217 levels remain a strong and reliable indicator of Aβ pathology, even when CeVD is present.
Moreover, higher levels of p-tau217 were linked with faster cognitive decline, making this biomarker not just a diagnostic tool but also a potential predictor of disease progression.
The study highlights several practical benefits of using plasma p-tau217 in clinical settings:
Early and accurate detection: It can detect Alzheimer’s-related brain changes before symptoms become severe, offering a chance for earlier intervention.
Less invasive and more scalable: Unlike PET scans or spinal taps, which are expensive and invasive, a blood test is simpler and could be easily incorporated into routine check-ups.
Personalized care: By helping doctors group patients into low-, medium-, or high-risk categories for Alzheimer’s pathology, p-tau217 allows for more targeted follow-up care and treatment planning.
Professor Christopher Chen, Director of the Memory, Aging and Cognition Center at NUHS and co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of these findings:
“This study provides strong evidence that plasma p-tau217 could be a game-changer for early detection of AD brain changes in Asian populations with high CeVD burden.”
Dr. Joyce Chong, first author and research fellow at NUS Medicine, noted that while blood biomarkers won’t replace gold-standard PET scans, their cost-effectiveness and ease of use make them ideal for screening and triaging patients, reducing unnecessary imaging and improving healthcare efficiency.
The research team aims to expand their work by studying additional biomarkers and following patients over a longer period. Dr. Lai highlighted the complexity of dementia, especially in populations where Alzheimer’s often coexists with vascular damage:
“Our long-term goal is to create a panel of biomarkers that not only improves diagnosis and prognosis but also points us toward new treatment targets.”
Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly recognized as a multi-factorial condition, particularly in Asian populations where both Alzheimer’s pathology and vascular damage contribute to memory loss. Tools like the plasma p-tau217 test could be vital for improving early detection and management—not just in Singapore, but across Asia and other diverse global populations.
In summary, this study confirms that plasma p-tau217 is a reliable, accessible, and non-invasive marker for Alzheimer’s pathology, even in patients with overlapping vascular conditions. As the global burden of dementia continues to rise, such innovations are crucial for guiding earlier diagnosis, smarter treatment planning, and ultimately, better outcomes for patients.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease, and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 things.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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