Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's: Biomarkers and Equipment

Biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

Early Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Biomarkers of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

Neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), affect more than 55 million people worldwide. The key challenge is that neurodegeneration begins 15–20 years before clinical symptoms appear, by which time the therapeutic window has already narrowed considerably.

2025 marked a breakthrough in plasma biomarkers: the FDA approved the first blood tests for AD based on p-tau217 and Aβ42/Aβ40, and an SAA test (α-synuclein seed amplification) became available for PD. This opens new opportunities for anti-aging clinics offering early screening programs.

Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease

The current set of plasma biomarkers for AD recommended by the Alzheimer's Association ↗ in 2025:

p-tau217: tau phosphorylated at position 217. The most accurate plasma marker of amyloid pathology, with sensitivity >90% and specificity >90%.
Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio: the ratio of amyloid peptides in plasma. A decrease indicates amyloid accumulation in the brain.
NfL (neurofilament light chain): a nonspecific marker of neurodegeneration, elevated in AD, PD and multiple sclerosis.
GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein): a marker of astrogliosis associated with amyloid pathology.

Biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease

PD diagnostics is undergoing a revolution thanks to the SAA (α-synuclein seed amplification assay):

α-Synuclein SAA: detects pathological α-synuclein aggregates in CSF and blood. Sensitivity 87–93%, specificity 96%. A positive result 5–15 years before clinical onset.
NfL: elevated in PD, especially in atypical parkinsonism (MSA, PSP).
Proteogenomic panels: a combination of genetic risk factors (LRRK2, GBA, SNCA) with proteomic markers for risk stratification.

Diagnostic Platforms

Equipment for laboratory neurodiagnostics:

Platform	Manufacturer	Markers	Technology
Lumipulse G	Fujirebio	p-tau217, Aβ42, Aβ40, total tau	Chemiluminescent immunoassay
Simoa HD-X	Quanterix	p-tau217, NfL, GFAP, Aβ42/40	Digital ELISA (femtomolar sensitivity)
V-PLEX	Meso Scale Diagnostics	Multiplex panels	Electrochemiluminescence
Ella	Bio-Techne	NfL, GFAP, cytokines	Microfluidic ELISA

From CSF to Blood: New Opportunities

Historically, neurobiomarkers were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which required a lumbar puncture and limited their use in screening programs. The arrival of ultrasensitive platforms (Simoa, Lumipulse) made it possible to measure these markers in blood plasma, where their concentrations are 100–1000 times lower than in CSF.

For anti-aging clinics, this means neuroscreening can be included in a standard check-up program using a routine venous blood draw. Combining neurobiomarkers with epigenetic clocks for biological age and gut-brain axis microbiome analysis creates a multimodal approach to assessing neurocognitive aging.

KombiMED: Equipment for Neurodiagnostics

KombiMED GmbH supplies equipment for laboratory neurodiagnostics, from immunoassay platforms to mass spectrometers. We will help you choose the optimal platform for your needs, whether a screening check-up or an in-depth investigation. Contact KombiMED to select a configuration.