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‹ Sat · 16 May 2026
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Molecular signatures and biomarker development for limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE)

Blood and spinal fluid biomarkers are emerging to diagnose a common dementia type (LATE) in living patients, potentially improving research and care.

LATE affects approximately one-third of individuals over 80 yet lacks a definitive in-vivo molecular diagnostic; this review summarizes progress in plasma/CSF biomarkers, neuroimaging signatures, and new consensus-based prediction guidelines for LATE-NC. Key gaps remain in discriminating pure LATE from ADNC-mixed disease for clinical trial stratification.

What the study was

Study design
Narrative review of LATE biomarker landscape
Population
Individuals aged 80+ with TDP-43 proteinopathy (affects ~1/3 of octogenarians)
Category
Diagnostics
Maturity
Exploratory
Journal
Acta Neuropathol

Why it surfaced

Timely review of a significantly underdiagnosed age-related disease affecting 1/3 of oldest old. Biomarker pipeline is still early-stage. Useful for aging research program context.

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