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ApoE Genotyping and 12‐Month Longitudinal Tracking of p ‐Tau217 Using Fingerstick Collection in a Population‐Based Cohort
Laia Montoliu‐Gaya, Hanna Huber, Josep Blazquez, Luisa Sophie Braun-Wohlfahrt, Jakub Vávra, Berta Calm, Cañada Laia, Amanda Cano et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Result A total of 58 participants (mean age 75.0 years, 61% female, 38% ApoEε4 carriers) were included in the study. The levels of p ‐tau217 from capillary DPS and plasma samples showed significant correlations at the three time points (all p <0.001). capillary DPS p ‐tau217 showed high accuracy to discriminate patients based on their CSF Aβ status at V0 (AUC=0.83, CI95% 0.76‐0.91), V6 (AUC=0.79, CI95% 0.67‐0.91) and V12 (AUC=0.73, CI95% 0.63‐0.82), similar to the paired plasma. Changes in capillary DPS and venous plasma samples between V0 and V6 were significantly associated in the total sample (r s =0.571; p <0.001), and in Aβ+ (r s =0.568; p <0.001), but not in Aβ‐ individuals (r s =0.368; n.s.). ApoE genotyping results were the same as those from whole blood analysis. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the capability of a fingerstick collection to accurately quantify p ‐tau217 levels longitudinally and genotype ApoE. This suggests that this simple, decentralized, temperature‐independent, and reliable method could facilitate AD patient management.
Key findings
- Result A total of 58 participants (mean age 75.0 years, 61% female, 38% ApoEε4 carriers) were included in the study.
- The levels of p ‐tau217 from capillary DPS and plasma samples showed significant correlations at the three time points (all p <0.001). capillary DPS p ‐tau217 showed high accuracy to discriminate patients based on their CSF Aβ status at V0 (AUC=0.83, CI95% 0.76‐0.91), V6 (AUC=0.79, CI95% 0.67‐0.91) and V12 (AUC=0.73, CI95% 0.63‐0.82), similar to the paired plasma.
- Changes in capillary DPS and venous plasma samples between V0 and V6 were significantly associated in the total sample (r s =0.571; p <0.001), and in Aβ+ (r s =0.568; p <0.001), but not in Aβ‐ individuals (r s =0.368; n.s.).
- ApoE genotyping results were the same as those from whole blood analysis.
- Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the capability of a fingerstick collection to accurately quantify p ‐tau217 levels longitudinally and genotype ApoE.
Why it matters
In 58 participants, p-tau217 measured from fingerstick samples correlated with plasma samples and discriminated CSF Aβ status with moderate accuracy over 12 months. This small study suggests fingerstick collection could support AD patient management, but it needs confirmation in larger groups.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants58
- Effect sizeAUC=0.83; AUC=0.79; AUC=0.73
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 46 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 48 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 58 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Xavier Morató Arús holds only 1 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Gothenburg: institution h-index 972 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 46 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 46 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 48 out of 100. |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Montoliu‐Gaya, L., Huber, H., Blazquez, J., Braun-Wohlfahrt, L. S., Vávra, J., Calm, B., et al. (2025). ApoE Genotyping and 12‐Month Longitudinal Tracking of p ‐Tau217 Using Fingerstick Collection in a Population‐Based Cohort. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70856_106796
Vancouver
Montoliu‐Gaya L, Huber H, Blazquez J, Braun-Wohlfahrt LS, Vávra J, Calm B, et al. ApoE Genotyping and 12‐Month Longitudinal Tracking of p ‐Tau217 Using Fingerstick Collection in a Population‐Based Cohort. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz70856_106796.
BibTeX
@article{montoliugaya2025-bcf50737,
author = {Montoliu‐Gaya, Laia and Huber, Hanna and Blazquez, Josep and Braun-Wohlfahrt, Luisa Sophie and Vávra, Jakub and Calm, Berta and Laia, Cañada and Cano, Amanda and others},
title = {{ApoE Genotyping and 12‐Month Longitudinal Tracking of p ‐Tau217 Using Fingerstick Collection in a Population‐Based Cohort}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz70856_106796},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70856_106796}
}