Scripps Researchers Identify Plasma Protein Structural Biomarkers
Scientists at Scripps Research report in Nature Aging on February 27, 2026, a blood-based assay that measures structural exposure at specific sites on plasma proteins and classifies 520 individuals as cognitively normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or Alzheimer's with about 83% overall accuracy and over 93% in two-way comparisons. The three-marker panel (C1QA, clusterin, apolipoprotein B) tracked status over months and may enable earlier diagnosis and progression monitoring.
Key Points
- 1Detects structural changes in three plasma proteins (C1QA, clusterin, apoB) that classify cognitive status
- 2Provides stronger signal than protein-level measures, correlating with cognitive scores and MRI atrophy
- 3Enables earlier diagnosis and progression tracking; potential biomarker for trials and treatment monitoring
Scoring Rationale
Robust peer-reviewed evidence and practical performance, limited by cohort size and requirement for broader validation.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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