Overview
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is essential for providing appropriate care. Plasma AD biomarkers—blood tests that detect abnormal AD-related proteins in the brain—offer a non-invasive and cost-effective way to improve early detection. However, in Latin America, access to these biomarkers remains limited due to high costs, lack of equipment, and insufficient research in underserved populations. This project aims to improve diagnostic accuracy in Chile’s public healthcare system.
Project Details
This study will evaluate how well plasma biomarkers align with clinical diagnoses of AD and their association with brain atrophy. We will recruit 80 individuals aged 60 and older diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s dementia or mild cognitive impairment due to AD, along with 30 cognitively healthy controls. Participants will undergo comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological evaluations, brain MRI scans, and blood sampling for biomarker analysis. Using the SIMOA Assay, we will measure plasma levels of p-tau217, Ab42, Ab40, NfL, and GFAP. MRI scans will be analyzed using MATLAB (CAT12 toolkit) to assess cortical shrinkage in AD-affected brain areas. By comparing biomarker levels to clinical diagnoses and cortical atrophy patterns, this study will help refine early detection strategies and expand the use of plasma biomarkers in Chile’s public healthcare system.
Members involved
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