Plasma proteomics yields a 21-protein panel to differentiate dementia types and stage Alzheimer’s disease
A large, multi-cohort plasma proteomics study identifies ~200 dysregulated proteins that distinguish Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia; GFAP rises along the AD continuum, ITGAV/ITGAM downregulate in Lewy body disorders, and NfL is elevated in FTD. The authors develop and validate a 21-protein multiplex panel capable of differentiating dementia types and staging AD, with independent validation and cross-cohort concordance; comorbidities have limited confounding. The panel was complemented by external neuropathology and Parkinson’s datasets, supporting plasma proteomics as a scalable diagnostic and staging approach for neurodegenerative dementias.