FRIDAY, July 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — High levels of p-tau217 are associated with an increased risk of progression to cognitive impairment and accelerated cognitive decline among cognitively impaired adults, according to a study published online July 14. Journal of the American Medical Association which coincides with the annual international conference of the Alzheimer’s Association, which was held in London from July 12 to 15.
Rachel F. Buckley, Ph.D., of Brigham General in Boston, and colleagues estimated the absolute risk of progression to cognitive impairment and the rate of cognitive decline based on plasma p-tau217 among cognitively impaired adults in a long-term cohort study of six individuals using observational data among adults268. and clinical trial groups.
The researchers found that during a median follow-up of 5.4 years, there were 478 cases of progression to cognitive impairment. The risk of progression to cognitive impairment increased with each one-standard deviation increase in baseline p-tau217 (hazard ratio, 1.38); after adjustment including β-amyloid positron emission tomography, the association remained significant (hazard ratio, 1.32). An increased absolute risk of progression over five years was observed for participants with baseline p-tau217 levels (24 and 38 percent, respectively); over 10 years, the risk was significantly higher, although limited data limited long-term estimates. There was also an association for elevated p-tau217 with faster cognitive decline based on changes in preclinical Alzheimer’s cognitive composite scores.
“Our findings provide some clear evidence that high levels of p-tau217 can help identify dementia risk years earlier — even in adults who do not have significant memory or cognitive problems,” Buckley said in a statement. “Once tested, these blood tests can be used to recruit patients for clinical trials of treatments to prevent cognitive decline and dementia. In the future, when treatments are approved for use early in the disease process, these tests can help guide monitoring, treatment decisions and counseling for patients and families.”
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