Alzheimer’s biomarkers in dental apply: Is innovation outpacing readiness?

To the editor, 

Let me start by saying my ardour has been advancing Alzheimer’s prevention by way of the lens of oral well being, a spotlight I’ve pursued for practically a decade. Throughout that point, I’ve labored throughout each the dental occupation and the preventive neurology house to assist bridge disciplines, translate rising science, and promote earlier threat recognition. 

As enthusiasm grows for precision drugs and Alzheimer’s prevention, some in my very own dental discipline have proposed increasing biomarker testing—together with APOE genotyping and blood-based phosphorylated Tau assays—into dental practices. Whereas interdisciplinary innovation needs to be welcomed, the scientific and moral complexities of those assessments warrant far higher warning than is typically acknowledged. 

The function of dentistry in systemic well being screening 

Dental professionals routinely establish hypertension, diabetes threat, sleep-disordered respiration indicators, inflammatory burden, remedy results, and boundaries to care. But a sensible actuality stays: many practices nonetheless don’t persistently carry out blood stress measurements, airway assessments, or make the most of out there salivary diagnostics that may assist periodontal prognosis, microbial threat stratification, and therapy planning.  

Earlier than embracing complicated neurodegenerative biomarker packages, our occupation ought to ask whether or not we’re absolutely leveraging the easier, evidence-based instruments already inside attain. Inflammatory host-response markers, periodontal pathogen burden, airway threat indicators, salivary molecular diagnostics, and vascular screening might supply extra rapid and clinically related worth to on a regular basis dental apply than speculative growth into neurodegenerative screening.^1,2 

Analyzing Tau testing 

APOE standing will not be a prognosis; it’s a probabilistic genetic threat marker related to altered Alzheimer’s illness threat, not certainty of illness. Threat is additional influenced by the interplay of different genetic variants affecting irritation, lipid transport, mitochondrial operate, immune response, vascular biology, and amyloid processing.

Markers like TREM2, APOC1, TOMM40, Klotho (KL), CLU, BIN1, ABCA7, CR1, PICALM, and SORL1 might additional modify susceptibility, resilience, age of onset, or illness trajectory. Outcomes might have an effect on not solely the affected person, but in addition relations, future planning, emotional well-being, and perceptions of cognitive future. Such testing requires knowledgeable consent that addresses uncertainty, limitations, privateness issues, and psychosocial affect.^3-8 

Blood-based phosphorylated Tau testing is equally nuanced. The phrase “blood Tau check” is commonly used as if it refers to a single standardized device. It doesn’t. A number of analytes exist, together with p-Tau181, p-Tau217, and p-Tau231, every with differing efficiency traits, proposed medical roles, and proof bases. Some seem extra helpful in figuring out Alzheimer’s-type pathology, others might rise earlier in illness trajectories, and none needs to be interpreted in isolation.^9-12 

2023 evaluations have highlighted the speedy progress of blood-based Alzheimer’s biomarkers, significantly plasma p-Tau217 and associated assays. On the similar time, these publications emphasize the necessity for harmonization, validated minimize factors, pre-analytical consistency, and cautious medical interpretation earlier than widespread deployment. These caveats deserve severe consideration when contemplating use in routine dental apply.^13,14 

Specimen kind additionally issues. Entire blood, plasma, and serum aren’t interchangeable matrices. Many main research and evolving medical fashions depend on plasma slightly than serum as a result of clotting processes, mobile launch of proteins, and dealing with variables can alter measured concentrations. Plasma-based p-Tau assays presently have stronger validation in a lot of the printed literature, whereas serum efficiency will be extra variable and assay-dependent.^9-14 A end result from one matrix can’t mechanically be in contrast with one other. 

Assay platform issues as nicely. Totally different laboratories might use ultra-sensitive immunoassays, proprietary algorithms, or mass spectrometry-based strategies. These approaches differ in calibration requirements, antibodies, detection thresholds, models of measure, and reference intervals. A numeric end result from one laboratory might not translate straight to a different. With out assay-specific validation, clinicians threat overconfidence in numbers that aren’t universally comparable.^10-14

Pre-analytical variables are one other main concern and are steadily underappreciated exterior specialty settings. Time from draw to centrifugation, tube kind, storage temperature, freeze-thaw cycles, hemolysis, transport circumstances, and processing delays can all affect biomarker integrity. These aren’t technical footnotes; they’re central determinants of end result reliability.¹⁴ 

Medical context is equally essential. Elevated p-Tau values shouldn’t be equated with dementia, nor ought to “regular” values be seen as blanket reassurance. For instance, pTau217 can point out amyloid pathology within the mind however has no additional clarification or description of any additional pathology or illness indication. Persistent kidney illness (CKD) can enhance a number of biomarkers of neurodegenerative illness, however these are false positives in lots of circumstances.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) can present excessive pTau217, however the amyloid ratio stays in a wholesome vary. Interpretation should think about signs, practical standing, cognitive testing, age, vascular illness, kidney illness, traumatic mind damage historical past, different neurodegenerative problems, medicines, and the necessity for confirmatory imaging or specialist analysis.^9-13 

The central query will not be whether or not a dental workplace can ship somebody for a laboratory-based blood check. It’s whether or not a typical dental setting is structured to supply pre-test counseling, handle uncertainty, interpret assay limitations, defend delicate information, and coordinate applicable neurologic follow-up. In lots of circumstances, the reply isn’t any. 

False positives might generate pointless concern, cascades of testing, and specialty referrals. False negatives might create misplaced reassurance and delay analysis. Commercialization of complicated biomarker panels as premium wellness choices raises extra issues concerning affected person vulnerability and knowledgeable decision-making.

How dentistry can contribute meaningfully to brain-health prevention 

Dentistry could make a distinction in brain-health prevention by way of evidence-based pathways already inside scope: periodontal irritation discount, blood stress screening, sleep apnea recognition, smoking cessation, vitamin counseling, xerostomia administration, and collaboration with major care and neurology companions. This features a clearer recognition of the clinically related relationships between periodontal illness and cardiovascular well being, together with associations with atherosclerosis, stroke threat, atrial fibrillation, and broader vascular dysfunction.^1,2 

If superior biomarker packages are thought of, they need to happen solely inside rigorous interdisciplinary frameworks utilizing validated laboratories, express knowledgeable consent, certified medical interpretation, privateness safeguards, and outlined referral pathways. With out these protections, we threat outrunning each the proof and the infrastructure required to make use of it responsibly. 

Personally, I hope our occupation retains a stronger deal with the basics that may change lives now: blood stress evaluation, chairside glucose consciousness, oral pathogen testing, and host-response measures like neutrophil exercise. Advancing these sensible, evidence-based instruments might elevate dentistry in immeasurable methods. 

Innovation is vital. Precision is crucial. Prudence stays indispensable. 

Sincerely, 

Anne O. Rice, RDH, BS, FAAOSH, CDP 

References:

1. Giannobile WV. Salivary diagnostics for periodontal ailments. J Am Dent Assoc. 2012;143(10 Suppl):6S-11S. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2012.0341 

2. Abdulwahab M, Kamal M, Akbar A. Screening for hypertension on the dentist’s workplace. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2022;14:79-85. Printed 2022 Apr 2. doi:10.2147/CCIDE.S358890 

3. Otero J, Guerrero M, Ortiz-Gomez Y. Blood stress measurement in dental workplaces and dentists’ cardiovascular threat administration: A cross-sectional examine. J Clin Exp Dent. 2025;17(7):e840-e847. doi:10.4317/jced.62888 

4. Goldman JS, Hahn SE, Catania JW, et al. Genetic counseling and testing for Alzheimer illness: joint apply tips of the American Faculty of Medical Genetics and the Nationwide Society of Genetic Counselors. Genet Med. 2011;13(6):597-605. doi:10.1097/GIM.0b013e31821d69b8 

5. Belloy ME, Napolioni V, Greicius MD. 1 / 4 century of APOE and Alzheimer’s illness: progress thus far and the trail ahead. Neuron. 2019;101(5):820-838. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.056 

6. Sims R, van der Lee SJ, Naj AC, et al. Uncommon coding variants in PLCG2, ABI3, and TREM2 implicate microglial-mediated innate immunity in Alzheimer’s illness. Nat Genet. 2017;49(9):1373-1384. doi:10.1038/ng.3916 

7. Wightman DP, Jansen IE, Savage JE, et al. A genome-wide affiliation examine with 1,126,563 people identifies new threat loci for Alzheimer’s illness. Nat Genet. 2021;53(9):1276-1282. doi:10.1038/s41588-021-00921-

8. Bellenguez C, Küçükali F, Jansen IE, et al. New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer’s illness and associated dementias. Nat Genet. 2022;54(4):412-436. doi:10.1038/s41588-022-01024-z

9. Palmqvist S, Janelidze S, Quiroz YT, et al. Discriminative accuracy of plasma phospho-tau217 for Alzheimer illness vs different neurodegenerative problems. JAMA. 2020;324(8):772-781. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.12134 

10. Karikari TK, Pascoal TA, Ashton NJ, et al. Blood phosphorylated tau 181 as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s illness: a diagnostic efficiency and prediction modelling examine utilizing information from 4 potential cohorts. Lancet Neurol. 2020;19(5):422-433. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30071-5 

11. Ashton NJ, Pascoal TA, Karikari TK, et al. Plasma p-tau231: a brand new biomarker for incipient Alzheimer’s illness pathology. Acta Neuropathol. 2021;141(5):709-724. doi:10.1007/s00401-021-02275-6

12. Teunissen CE, Verberk IMW, Thijssen EH, et al. Blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s illness: in direction of medical implementation. Lancet Neurol. 2022;21(1):66-77. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00361-6 

13. Hampel H, Hu Y, Cummings J, et al. Blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s illness: present state and future use in a reworked world healthcare panorama. Neuron. 2023;111(18):2781-2799. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.017

14. Mielke MM, Anderson M, Ashford JW, et al. Suggestions for medical implementation of blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s illness. Alzheimers Dement. 2024;20(11):8216-8224. doi:10.1002/alz.14184