EMERGING BLOOD-BASED BIOMARKERS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: FOCUS ON TAU, NFL, AND GFAP
Authors: Sakina Turabi*, Soumya Pathak, Shambaditya Goswami
Publication Date: 2026/09/05
DOI: 10.59551/DOI: 10.59551/IJHMP/25832069/2026.7.2.140
Abstract
<p>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by progressive neurological disorder marked by the gradual decline of memory and cognitive abilities, affecting daily functioning and quality of life, imposing a leading socioeconomic disruption and healthcare burden. For the effective interventions, treatment and management, early diagnosis is important though conventional techniques like imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests are invasive and costly. The inclusion of blood-based biomarkers provides a transformative approach for the early detection and disease monitoring. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the emerging evidence on Tau181, Tau217, NfL, and GFAP, aiming to delineate their role in reshaping future strategies for detection, monitoring, and intervention. Tau 217, among the tau isoforms biomarkers, demonstrated as a superior candidate with regards to diagnostic accuracy and stronger co-relation with Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography and disease progression, while compared to Tau 181. As the frontrunner biomarker, Tau 217 has emerged for AD with NfL and GFAP that provide precious complementary insights. Axonal degeneration is reflected by NfL while astrocytic activation is indicated by GFAP. Both serve as complementary markers. Combined multi-marker panels integrating these biomarkers enhanced sensitivity and specificity for AD detection. Therefore, these blood-based biomarkers provide a potential and revolutionary AD diagnosis and management by enabling non-invasive, early, and precise disease characterization.</p>
<p>KEYWORDS: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Tau Biomarkers, NfL, GFAP.</p>
References
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