Development and implementation of plasma P‐tau immunoassays

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMultiple advances in plasma biomarkers have been reported in recent times, one of these being the development of plasma p‐tau assays.MethodsIn this invited presentation as part of the Perspectives Session on “Advances in plasma Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers,” I will provide an expert review of the current state of analytical development of plasma p‐tau biomarkers.ResultsSpecifically, I will discuss the biochemical and molecular bases of why specific p‐tau forms are accessible in blood whilst others are not, as well as why these blood p‐tau markers tend to associate predominantly with brain amyloid but not tau pathology. Furthermore, I will highlight new discoveries in the development of biofluid‐based tau markers (both phosphorylated and non‐phosphorylated) that associate with neurofibrillary tangle pathology. Other aspects of my talk will focus on associations of the novel biomarker plasma brain‐derived tau with AD‐signature neurodegeneration. Additionally, I will discuss how newly improved preanalytical handling protocols enable plasma biomarker measurements in remote and resource‐limited settings, towards democratizing access to diagnostics.ConclusionFinally, I will discuss and suggest solutions to challenges around cut‐off generation, inter‐laboratory and inter‐assay measurements.