Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis: Clinical Utility of Fluid and Blood Based Biomarkers

Presentation abstract:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles, with pathophysiologic changes occurring decades before clinical symptoms emerge. Recent advances in fluidbased biomarkers — including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aß42/40, pTau181, and pTau217 — along with the emergence of highly accurate bloodbased assays have transformed the clinical approach to early and accurate AD diagnosis. Updated 2024–2025 guidelines from the Alzheimer’s Association and Global CEOi Working Group now recognize plasma biomarkers, particularly pTau217, as clinically useful tools for both triage and confirmatory diagnostic workflows. This presentation will review the biology of AD, updates to diagnostic criteria, and comparative performance of CSF, imaging, and plasma biomarkers. Special focus will be placed on plasma pTau217, assay considerations, laboratory validation, and realworld implementation challenges.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the underlying pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and its relevance to biomarker development.
• Summarize current diagnostic guidelines and recommendations for blood-based biomarkers.
• Compare the analytical and clinical performance of key fluid biomarkers used in Alzheimer’s disease, with emphasis on plasma pTau217
• Interpret laboratory considerations for implementing AD biomarker testing, including assay validation, cutpoint selection, and factors affecting accuracy.

Location:
Advanced Technology Center 1800 College Crescent Virginia Beach, VA 23453