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‹ Wed · 27 May 2026
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Synaptic biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease dementia and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Blood and brain fluid markers of nerve cell damage now provide a validated toolkit for improving early Alzheimer's diagnosis and trial design.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 65 study cohorts identified eight CSF and three blood-based synaptic biomarkers — including SNAP-25 and GAP-43 as most robust — consistently altered in Alzheimer's disease dementia and mild cognitive impairment. These findings provide a comprehensive validated landscape of synaptic biomarkers that may enrich AD clinical trial design, improve early diagnosis, and serve as targets for neuroprotective interventions.

What the study was

Study design
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Population
AD dementia and MCI patients (65 study cohorts included in meta-analysis)
Category
Diagnostics
Maturity
Validated
Journal
Alzheimer's & Dementia

Why it surfaced

Comprehensive meta-analysis (65 cohorts) of emerging synaptic AD biomarkers beyond amyloid/tau; Alzheimer's & Dementia flagship; blood-based markers (SNAP-25, GAP-43) have translational relevance for non-invasive AD diagnostics and trial enrichment

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