Longevity & AgingNew Blood Test Detects Alzheimer's Tau Tangles Better Than Existing Markers
Researchers identified a novel plasma biomarker called eMTBR-tau243 — an endogenously cleaved fragment of the tau microtubule-binding region — that specifically reflects insoluble tau tangle pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Tested across three cohorts totaling over 900 participants, this blood-based marker strongly correlated with tau-PET imaging and cognitive performance, outperforming existing plasma tau biomarkers like %p-tau217 and %p-tau205. Levels rose significantly at the mild cognitive impairment stage and increased further in dementia. Unlike p-tau181 and p-tau217, which primarily reflect amyloid plaque burden rather than actual tau aggregates, eMTBR-tau243 tracks true tangle pathology, making it potentially valuable for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring tau-targeted therapies.
