Brain Test in a Blood Draw: Tracking Alzheimer's with Phosphorylated Tau217

Researchers have found a strong link between a specific protein in blood, called phosphorylated tau217, and memory problems in people with Alzheimer's disease. This protein, found in plasma, can hint at the earlier stages of Alzheimer's. While scientists already knew that these proteins could show changes in the brain, they weren't sure how well these blood tests reflected memory issues. To explore this, they studied two groups of people: those who were older and mentally sharp, and those with Alzheimer's. They measured various brain and blood markers, including tau proteins, and tested their memory and thinking skills. The study found that plasma tau217 levels had a strong connection to memory performance, especially in people with Alzheimer's. It even did better than other similar tests in identifying memory problems. Moreover, even those with slightly lowered memory scores but no significant tau in their brain showed signs of memory issues. This makes plasma tau217 a promising tool for spotting early memory troubles in people with Alzheimer's.