SUN CITY, Ariz. (Sept. 8, 2026) – New findings from a study led by Banner Health have identified a more precise way to detect Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes using a routine blood draw — a step toward earlier, easier and more accessible Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Published recently in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, the study evaluated a novel approach to measuring a protein in the blood called phosphorylated tau 217, or p-tau217 — a biological marker linked to the hallmark brain changes of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, researchers with Banner’s Fluid Biomarker Program tested a more brain-specific version of this marker, known as brain-derived p-tau217, comparing blood test results against confirmed brain pathology in 288 donors following autopsy. Banner’s Brain and Body Donation Program collaborated on the study.
Currently, confirming Alzheimer's-related brain changes often requires expensive PET brain scans or spinal fluid testing — tools that are not widely accessible. A highly accurate blood test could change that, enabling earlier diagnosis and potentially earlier access to recently approved Alzheimer's treatments, as well as more effective clinical trials for new therapies.
Brain-derived p-tau217 showed dramatically stronger signals in individuals with advanced Alzheimer's pathology, with up to an 8.3-fold increase compared to roughly 3.8-fold for the standard test. It also more accurately tracked actual plaque and tangle burden in the brain and better predicted future cognitive decline. The assay was run on a fully automated in vitro diagnostic platform in partnership with Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, supporting its potential for broad clinical implementation.
“What excites me most is how clearly the brain-derived signal distinguished different levels of Alzheimer’s pathology. It showed a substantially broader dynamic range and tracked pathology more closely than conventional p-tau217," said Marisa Denkinger, co-lead author and a researcher with Banner's Fluid Biomarker Program at Banner Sun Health Research Institute. "With further clinical validation, this approach could help advance blood-based biomarkers into more informative and accessible tools for patients and clinicians.”
"Advancing Alzheimer's disease research requires biomarkers that can be studied reliably and at scale," said Charbel Abou-Diwan, PhD, senior director of medical and scientific affairs involving neurological diseases at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. "This study highlights the potential of brain-derived p-tau217 biomarkers measured on a fully automated immunoassay platform and adds to the growing body of evidence supporting blood-based biomarker research in Alzheimer's disease."
Banner's Fluid Biomarker Program brings specialized expertise to the search for simpler, more affordable ways to evaluate a person's risk for Alzheimer's and other diseases. The program's Michael T. Zuendel Family Biomarker Laboratory assesses blood and spinal fluid tests from national and international research studies, with the ultimate aim of fast-tracking scientific discovery into tests that benefit patients.
Banner's Brain and Body Donation Program is a world-leading resource for studying neurodegenerative diseases and normal aging. The program's global reach extends across 40 U.S. states and 27 countries, meaning the data generously provided by Phoenix-area donors is helping shape Alzheimer's research and prevention strategies around the world.
About Banner Health
Banner Health's mission is to make health care easier, so life can be better. As one of the nation's largest fully integrated nonprofit health systems, we are pioneering a sustainable care model that prioritizes prevention, manages chronic disease, and reduces health spending – succeeding when patients stay healthy, not when they get sick. We operate 33 hospitals and more than 400 sites across six states, delivering seamless care from primary to quaternary medicine, including health insurance, physician networks, world-renowned specialty services, and behavioral health. Accountable to the communities we serve, we reinvest every dollar into advancing care, research, and facilities, providing more than $1 billion each year in community benefit. Through our partnership with the University of Arizona, we drive clinical discoveries across more than 800 trials and train more than 1,300 residents and fellows annually. Headquartered in Arizona, we serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among Arizona's top-performing by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/about.
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