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Blood phosphorylated tau elevation as a biomarker in immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis
Kaeser SA, Schultz SA, Schultz SA, Hofmann A, Häsler LM, Xu Y, Lambert M, Obermüller U et al.. Nature medicine, 2026-03-11
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Elevated blood levels of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) are diagnostic of Alzheimer disease and are associated with the deposition of amyloid-β in the cerebral neuropil. Elevated p-tau levels have also been associated with cerebral deposition of Danish amyloid and prion protein amyloid. Here we analyzed p-tau in serum from four different cohorts of people with the most common types of systemic amyloidosis, transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis and immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kaeser, S. A., Schultz, S. A., Hofmann, A., Häsler, L. M., Xu, Y., Lambert, M., et al. (2026). Blood phosphorylated tau elevation as a biomarker in immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis. Nature medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04272-2
Vancouver
Kaeser SA, Schultz SA, Hofmann A, Häsler LM, Xu Y, Lambert M, et al. Blood phosphorylated tau elevation as a biomarker in immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis. Nature medicine. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04272-2. PMID: 41814005.
BibTeX
@article{kaeser2026-41814005,
author = {Kaeser, S. A. and Schultz, S. A. and Hofmann, A. and Häsler, L. M. and Xu, Y. and Lambert, M. and Obermüller, U. and others},
title = {{Blood phosphorylated tau elevation as a biomarker in immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis}},
journal = {Nature medicine},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1038/s41591-026-04272-2},
pmid = {41814005},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04272-2}
}
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Key findings
- Elevated p-tau levels have also been associated with cerebral deposition of Danish amyloid and prion protein amyloid.
- Here we analyzed p-tau in serum from four different cohorts of people with the most common types of systemic amyloidosis, transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis and immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis.
- We found higher levels of serum p-tau181 in the AL and ATTR groups than in controls.
- Subsequent analyses revealed that these effects were more pronounced in the presence of polyneuropathy (PNP) and in AL compared to ATTR amyloidosis.
Why it matters
This study found higher levels of serum p-tau181 in people with AL and ATTR amyloidosis than in controls, suggesting blood p-tau can be raised by amyloid outside the brain. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Nature medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Nature Medicine: journal h-index 763 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.8× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Mathias Jucker: h-index 94 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 11 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41814005) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04272-2
- PubMed: 41814005
- Original source →
- Free full text: Nature Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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