The Claim
Plasma phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (p-tau217) levels measured by three novel assays (DiSMS, LyMedivh™ AXL, CBA) are significantly elevated in individuals with Alzheimer’s dementia compared to cognitively unimpaired controls and those with non-AD dementias such as subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, with area under the curve values exceeding 0.92 for distinguishing Alzheimer’s dementia from these groups.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Blood levels of a specific form of tau protein called p-tau217, measured using three new laboratory tests, are consistently higher in people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia than in people without dementia or with other types of dementia, and these measurements can accurately identify Alzheimer’s dementia with over 92% accuracy.
See the scientific wording
Plasma phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (p-tau217) levels measured by three novel assays (DiSMS, LyMedivh™ AXL, CBA) are significantly elevated in individuals with Alzheimer’s dementia compared to cognitively unimpaired controls and those with non-AD dementias such as subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, with area under the curve values exceeding 0.92 for distinguishing Alzheimer’s dementia from these groups, indicating strong diagnostic association.
In Alzheimer’s dementia, abnormal tau proteins in brain cells become overly phosphorylated and clump together, forming tangles. These tangles cause brain cells to break down and release the abnormal tau into the fluid around the brain, which then enters the bloodstream. The specific form of tau with a phosphate group at position 217 is released in large amounts only when this process is advanced, making it a clear signal of Alzheimer’s in the blood.
What the research says
1 studyThis study found that a specific protein in the blood, called p-tau217, is much higher in people with Alzheimer’s dementia than in those without dementia or with other brain diseases. The new blood tests used in the study were very good at spotting Alzheimer’s, even in early stages.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
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