Disease Area
Alzheimer's Biomarker Research
Prevena Health is exploring peripheral blood-based biomarker correlates of neurodegenerative pathology. Our platform aims to support earlier research-stage identification of molecular changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Our Approach
Peripheral blood-based biomarker research for neurodegenerative pathology.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a prolonged preclinical phase during which pathological changes in the brain may occur years or even decades before cognitive symptoms emerge. Historically, identifying these changes has required invasive procedures such as cerebrospinal fluid sampling or expensive imaging modalities like amyloid PET scans.
Recent advances in blood-based biomarker research have opened new avenues for studying neurodegenerative pathology through peripheral samples. Prevena Health is investigating how continuous monitoring of these emerging peripheral biomarkers may contribute to earlier research-stage identification of molecular changes associated with Alzheimer's pathology.
Our platform is being developed to provide longitudinal, trend-based biomarker data that may support researchers studying the trajectory of neurodegenerative molecular signals over time. This approach aims to complement existing research tools by offering a continuous, non-invasive data layer for Alzheimer's biomarker studies.
Key Biomarkers
Peripheral markers associated with neurodegenerative pathology.
p-tau 217 (Phosphorylated Tau 217)
A phosphorylated form of tau protein associated with Alzheimer's-specific neuropathology. Blood-based p-tau 217 has shown strong concordance with amyloid PET and CSF measures in research studies and is considered one of the most promising peripheral biomarkers for Alzheimer's research.
p-tau 181 (Phosphorylated Tau 181)
Another phosphorylated tau variant associated with Alzheimer's pathology. p-tau 181 in blood has been investigated as a peripheral correlate of brain tau and amyloid burden in multiple research cohorts.
NfL (Neurofilament Light Chain)
A structural protein of neurons released during axonal damage. Elevated NfL levels in blood are associated with neurodegeneration across multiple conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, and may reflect disease progression.
GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein)
An astrocytic protein associated with neuroinflammation and astrogliosis. Blood GFAP levels are being studied for their potential association with amyloid pathology and neuroinflammatory processes in Alzheimer's research.
Amyloid Beta 42/40 Ratio
The ratio of amyloid beta 42 to amyloid beta 40 peptides in blood, associated with cerebral amyloid burden. A decreased ratio may correlate with amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's pathology.
Why It Matters
Why earlier identification matters in Alzheimer's research.
Alzheimer's pathology begins years before symptoms. Neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease may begin 15 to 20 years before clinical symptoms become apparent. Identifying individuals during this preclinical window is a major focus of current research.
Blood-based biomarkers are transforming the field. The emergence of reliable peripheral biomarkers for Alzheimer's pathology represents a paradigm shift in neurodegeneration research, potentially enabling broader population-level studies without invasive procedures.
Longitudinal data may reveal progression patterns. Single-point biomarker measurements provide limited context. Continuous monitoring may help researchers understand the temporal dynamics of neurodegenerative molecular changes and identify when transitions from normal to pathological trajectories occur.
Clinical trial enrollment may benefit from better screening. Identifying individuals with specific biomarker profiles may support more efficient enrollment in Alzheimer's clinical trials, helping to advance therapeutic research.
Prevena Health's platform is in development and is not commercially available. It has not been cleared, approved, or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other regulatory body. It is not a diagnostic device. Content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Partner with us on Alzheimer's biomarker research.
We are seeking neuroscience researchers, academic medical centers, and clinical trial organizations to explore continuous peripheral biomarker surveillance for neurodegeneration research.
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