Historically, neurodegenerative disorders could only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem or through invasive lumbar punctures and costly PET scans. Ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array (Simoa) technology has ushered in a revolution in blood-based neuro-biomarkers.
Key Plasma Biomarkers in Modern Neurology
- Phosphorylated Tau-217 (p-Tau217): Highly specific blood biomarker reflecting cortical amyloid-beta plaque deposition and tau neurofibrillary tangle burden with >90% diagnostic accuracy.
- Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL): Structural cytoskeletal protein released into blood and CSF during active axonal injury and neuronal death.
- Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP): Sensitive plasma indicator of reactive astrogliosis and early neuroinflammatory cascades.