Quantifying Biomarkers in Blood: A New Frontier for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

• Kirti Daga, Medical Diagnostics, University of Delaware

• Christopher Martens, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) currently affect 1 in 9 people over the age of 65. The management of ADRD imposes significant financial and emotional burden not only on those with ADRD and their loved ones but also on the healthcare system. Despite recently approved disease-modifying therapies, there is currently no cure for ADRD. The existing treatments only moderately slow cognitive decline and are currently limited to those exhibiting early symptoms of the disease. Early detection of disease pathology, even prior to the onset of symptoms, may be crucial to maximize the benefits of these therapies and minimize risks. To improve early detection capabilities, the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research (DECCAR) has recently launched the Delaware Longitudinal Study for Alzheimer’s Prevention (DELSAP) which aims to identify blood-based biomarkers that could help detect the early onset of ADRD. Participants undergo neurocognitive assessments to screen for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia. Using a longitudinal approach, clinically relevant and ADRD pathology-related blood-based biomarkers, such as phosphorylated tau (p-tau 181), amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), and phosphorylated 217 (ptau217) will be analyzed to predict changes in cognitive function among cognitively unimpaired individuals and those with MCI. The statistical models will consider additional variables such as age, sex, and APOE genotype, a known risk factor for ADRD, to enhance these biomarkers’ diagnostic and prognostic utility. A key result of DELSAP is the early detection of ADRD, essential for timely interventions. These biomarkers can predict cognitive decline, potentially slow disease progression, and enable personalized medicine approaches to optimize therapeutic and clinical outcomes for one of the fastest-growing health threats in the United States.