New Blood Test Platform Simultaneously Measures Over 100 Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease

Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease-related pathological changes, such as neuroinflammation, impaired brain blood vessel function, and disrupted nerve cell communication, is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of new infusion treatments and slowing disease progression. Gaining a detailed understanding of molecular changes in individuals at risk for Alzheimer's, before they experience cognitive or memory decline, would help scientists monitor disease progression and eventually establish guidelines for early intervention. However, the current diagnostic methods for Alzheimer’s are not ideal—they are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and can be burdensome for patients who must undergo repeated invasive procedures.

Now, scientists at University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) have independently validated a new blood test platform capable of measuring over 100 biomarkers related to Alzheimer’s disease. This platform could improve clinicians’ ability to capture the complex pathology of Alzheimer’s and streamline early diagnosis. In a proof-of-concept study, the research team tested blood samples from a cohort of 113 cognitively normal older adults living in a financially underserved region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The samples were sent to Alamar Biosciences (Fremont, CA, USA) for analysis using a novel blood biomarker panel called the NULISAseq CNS Disease 120 Panel. This panel, in addition to measuring classic Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers like phosphorylated tau, amyloid beta, neuroinflammation marker GFAP, and nerve cell damage marker NEFL, also tracks changes in about 120 other proteins related to neurodegenerative diseases.

Image: Scientists have validated a new lab test platform for blood biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

The performance of the NULISA platform was independently validated against conventional assays for classic Alzheimer’s biomarkers for each sample. Biomarker profiles over two years were also compared with imaging-based measures of amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration. According to findings published in Molecular Neurodegeneration, the NULISAseq panel identified several biomarkers that correlated with amyloid positivity and changes in amyloid levels over time. These biomarkers, previously associated with Alzheimer’s disease, had typically only been measured in cerebrospinal fluid and included proteins related to neuroinflammation, vascular changes, and impaired nerve cell communication. The researchers expect the platform to track blood biomarker changes over time in individuals both asymptomatic and undergoing treatment. Additionally, they are working on a predictive model that correlates biomarker changes detected by NULISAseq with brain autopsy data and cognitive assessments collected over several years. Their ultimate goal is to identify blood biomarkers that can aid in staging Alzheimer’s disease and predicting its progression, helping inform clinical management and treatment decisions.

“Alzheimer’s disease should not be looked at through one single lens,” said senior author Thomas Karikari, Ph.D., M.Sc., assistant professor of psychiatry at Pitt. “Capturing aspects of Alzheimer’s pathology in a panel of clinically validated biomarkers would increase the likelihood of stopping the disease before any cognitive symptoms emerge.”

Related Links:
University of Pittsburgh
Alamar Biosciences