Project Title: Highly sensitive plasma biomarkers screening for non-Alzheimer dementias

Grant Name: 2024 CLEAR Operating Grant

Grant Duration: 2024-2026 (two years)

Research Lay Summary:

In addition to Alzheimer Disease (AD), there are several other diseases that can cause dementia, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Lewy Body Disease (LBD).

A problem in clinical care and research is that there are no simple tests to identify the presence of these other diseases during life, and they are only confirmed in autopsy studies. Moreover, these other dementias sometimes present like just AD, making clinical diagnosis quite difficult.

In the last two decades, Alzheimer biomarkers using brain scans, cerebrospinal fluid tests and, more recently, blood tests, have helped researchers better understand the AD process, and led to the development of new treatments. However, the AD biomarkers do not rule out other co-existing diseases. The Alamar NULISA platform uses a new, highly sensitive technology that allows the measurement of very small amounts of proteins in blood reflective of brain diseases, which was not previously possible.

This test will be used to compare blood samples banked from their patient cohort with highly detailed autopsy characterization to identify a specific biomarker pattern for each type of non-AD pathology. Having a blood test to diagnose these other diseases will significantly enhance future therapeutic development and improve patient care.