Diagnostic accuracy of the plasma ALZpath pTau217 immunoassay to identify Alzheimer’s disease pathology
Authors: Ashton Nicholas J. , Brum Wagner S. , Di Molfetta Guglielmo , Benedet Andrea L. , Arslan Burak , Jonatis Erin , Langhough Rebecca E. , Cody Karly , Wilson Rachael , Carlsson Cynthia M. , Vanmechelen Eugeen , Montoliu-Gaya Laia , Lantero-Rodriguez Juan , Rahmouni Nesrine , Tissot Cecile , Stevenson Jenna , Servaes Stijn , Therriault Joseph , Pascoal Tharick , Lleó Alberto , Alcolea Daniel , Fortea Juan , Rosa-Neto Pedro , Johnson Sterling , Jeromin Andreas , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik 
Published: July 2023

Importance

Phosphorylated tau (pTau) is a specific blood biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, with pTau217 considered to have the most utility. However, availability of pTau217 tests for research and clinical use has been limited. Expanding access to this highly accurate AD biomarker is crucial for wider evaluation and implementation of AD blood tests.

Objective

To determine the utility of a novel and commercially available Single molecule array (Simoa) for plasma pTau217 (ALZpath) to detect AD pathology. To evaluate references ranges for abnormal Aβ across three selected cohorts.

Design, Setting, Participants

Three single-centre observational cohorts were involved in the study: Translational Biomarkers in Aging and Dementia (TRIAD), Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP), and Sant Pau Initiative on Neurodegeneration (SPIN). MRI, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET data were available for TRIAD and WRAP, while CSF biomarkers were additionally measured in a subset of TRIAD and SPIN. Plasma measurements of pTau181, pTau217 (ALZpath), pTau231, Aβ42/40, GFAP, and NfL, were available for all cohorts. Longitudinal blood biomarker data spanning 3 years for TRIAD and 8 years for WRAP were included.

Exposures

MRI, Aβ-PET, tau-PET, CSF biomarkers (Aβ42/40 and pTau immunoassays) and plasma pTau217 (ALZpath Simoa).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The accuracy of plasma pTau217 for detecting abnormal amyloid and tau pathology. Longitudinal pTau217 change according to baseline pathology status.

Results

The study included 786 participants (mean [SD] age, 66.3 [9.7] years; 504 females [64.1%]) were included in the study. High accuracy was observed in identifying elevated Aβ (AUC, 0.92-0.96; 95%CI 0.89-0.99) and tau pathology (AUC, 0.93-0.97; 95%CI 0.84-0.99) across all cohorts. These accuracies were significantly higher than other plasma biomarker combinations and comparable to CSF biomarkers. The detection of abnormal Aβ pathology using binary or three-range references yielded reproducible results. Longitudinally, plasma pTau217 showed an annual increase only in Aβ-positive individuals, with the highest increase observed in those with tau-positivity.

Conclusions and Relevance

The ALZpath plasma pTau217 Simoa assay accurately identifies biological AD, comparable to CSF biomarkers, with reproducible cut-offs across cohorts. It detects longitudinal changes, including at the preclinical stage, and is the first widely available, accessible, and scalable blood test for pTau217 detection.

Key Points

Question

What are the capabilities of the ALZpath plasma pTau217 Single molecule array (Simoa) to identify Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology?

Findings

ALZpath pTau217 showed similar accuracies to cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in identifying abnormal Aβ and tau pathologies. Calculated reference ranges for detecting abnormal Aβ were consistent across three cohorts. Over 8 years, the largest change of pTau217 was in individuals positive for both Aβ and tau.

Meaning

These results demonstrate the high-performance of the ALZpath plasma pTau217 Simoa in identifying AD-type pathophysiology. The wider availability of high-performing assays will expedite the use of blood biomarkers in clinical settings and benefit the research community.