Application of blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in clinical practice: Recommendations from Taiwan Dementia Society

Yu-Wen Cheng; Yen-Ju Lin; Yung-Shuan Lin; Wei-Pin Hong; Yi-Chun Kuan; Kuan-Yi Wu; Jung-Lung Hsu; Pei-Ning Wang; Ming-Chyi Pai; Cheng-Sheng Chen; Jong-Ling Fuh; Chaur-Jong Hu; Ming-Jang Chiu

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association (Dec 2024)

Application of blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in clinical practice: Recommendations from Taiwan Dementia Society

Yu-Wen Cheng,
Yen-Ju Lin,
Yung-Shuan Lin,
Wei-Pin Hong,
Yi-Chun Kuan,
Kuan-Yi Wu,
Jung-Lung Hsu,
Pei-Ning Wang,
Ming-Chyi Pai,
Cheng-Sheng Chen,
Jong-Ling Fuh,
Chaur-Jong Hu,
Ming-Jang Chiu

Affiliations

Yu-Wen Cheng: Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Yen-Ju Lin: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Yung-Shuan Lin: Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Wei-Pin Hong: Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
Yi-Chun Kuan: Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology and Dementia Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Kuan-Yi Wu: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
Jung-Lung Hsu: Department of Neurology, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, & Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain & Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Pei-Ning Wang: Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ming-Chyi Pai: Division of Behavioral Neurology, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Cheng-Sheng Chen: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Jong-Ling Fuh: Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chaur-Jong Hu: Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology and Dementia Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ming-Jang Chiu: Corresponding author. Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shang S. Rd., Chung-Zheng District, Taipei, 100225, Taiwan.; Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 123, no. 12
pp. 1210 – 1217

Abstract

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Blood-based biomarkers (BBM) are potentially powerful tools that assist in the biological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vivo with minimal invasiveness, relatively low cost, and good accessibility. This review summarizes current evidence for using BBMs in AD, focusing on amyloid, tau, and biomarkers for neurodegeneration. Blood-based phosphorylated tau and the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio showed consistent concordance with brain pathology measured by CSF or PET in the research setting. In addition, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are neurodegenerative biomarkers that show the potential to assist in the differential diagnosis of AD. Other pathology-specific biomarkers, such as α-synuclein and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), can potentially detect AD concurrent pathology. Based on current evidence, the working group from the Taiwan Dementia Society (TDS) achieved consensus recommendations on the appropriate use of BBMs for AD in clinical practice. BBMs may assist clinical diagnosis and prognosis in AD subjects with cognitive symptoms; however, the results should be interpreted by dementia specialists and combining biochemical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging information. Further studies are needed to evaluate BBMs' real-world performance and potential impact on clinical decision-making.

Published in Journal of the Formosan Medical Association

ISSN: 0929-6646 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-the-formosan-medical-association/

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