Biology in the blood: Advances in plasma biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63969/141q5f06Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, plasma biomarkers, Aβ42/40, phosphorylated tau, precision medicineAbstract
The development of plasma biomarkers has revolutionized the biological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), enabling earlier and less invasive detection of the underlying neuropathological processes. This work describes the relevance of the main plasma biomarkers -Aβ42/40, p-tau, NfL, GFAP, and ApoE- within the NIA-AA A/T/N framework, as well as their potential integration into clinical practice for the evaluation and follow-up of AD. The Aβ42/40 ratio accurately reflects cerebral amyloid burden, while p-tau181 and p-tau217 isoforms indicate the propagation of tau pathology. The NfL and GFAP biomarkers complement this profile by revealing neuronal damage and astroglial activation. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), in addition to its role in cerebral lipid metabolism, modulates the expression and dynamics of the other markers, integrating the processes of amyloid accumulation, tau phosphorylation, and neuroglial inflammation. The combined use of plasma biomarkers within the A/T/N framework represents a highly valuable diagnostic approach that supports a precision medicine strategy in AD. Their progressive implementation in clinical settings will enhance early detection, risk stratification, and therapeutic monitoring, consolidating the transition toward a diagnostic model grounded in the biological basis of the disease.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Alfredo Ibarra-Sánchez, Claudia Soto-Félix, Leticia Cano-Barraza, Delia Barraza-Sámano (Autor/a)
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