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The pathology of Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by accumulation of amyloid-β peptides and phosphorylation of tau (a protein that stabilizes microtubules in the brain). These biomarkers can serve as diagnostic tools when they are measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or identified on positron-emission tomography (PET). Because CSF testing requires lumbar puncture and PET scans are not widely available, the obvious question is whether biomarker levels in the blood can identify AD with reasonable diagnostic accuracy.
A study published in late July addressed this question (JAMA 2024 Jul 28). The results were reported widely in the public media, with headlines such as “A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer's 90% of the Time, Study …