New tests identify early changes in tau metabolism in preclinical Alzheimer’s

A recent research collaboration has identified new forms of tau protein that become abnormal in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease before the development of cognitive problems. The scientists developed new, highly sensitive tools to detect these subtle changes and confirmed their results in human samples. The researchers found that specific forms of p-tau exist that undergo very minute increases in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in people with emerging Alzheimer’s pathology. Thus, the investigators developed highly sensitive techniques to measure these biological markers. In the first study, which has been published EMBO Molecular Medicine, approximately one-third of the 381...