Impact of Plasma p-tau181 on Cognition, Motor Phenotypes, and Disease Course in ALS.
Phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), an Alzheimer's disease biomarker, was recently evaluated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated plasma p-tau181 in 202 ALS/ALS-FTD patients and 94 healthy controls, assessing cognitive performance, motor function, and longitudinal dynamics. Plasma p-tau181 and NfL were significantly elevated in ALS, with p-tau181 increasing over 1 year while NfL remained stable. Neither marker correlated with cognitive performance, and only NfL was associated with disease severity and progression. Plasma p-tau181 was higher in patients with predominant lower motor neuron involvement. The results indicate that p-tau181 reflects peripheral processes in ALS, providing a complementary, mechanistically distinct biomarker from NfL.
Authors
Kasper Kasper, Lehto Lehto, Nordmann Nordmann, Peters Peters, Hellmann Hellmann, Priller Priller, Spruth Spruth, Petzold Petzold, Vogt Vogt, Weydt Weydt, Bernsen Bernsen, Dinter Dinter, Falkenburger Falkenburger, Günther Günther, Düzel Düzel, Glanz Glanz, Synofzik Synofzik, Beichert Beichert, Spottke Spottke, Wagner Wagner, Brosseron Brosseron, Schmid Schmid, Schneider Schneider, Teipel Teipel, Prudlo Prudlo, Hermann Hermann
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