Overview
- A Nature Medicine study found a 34‑circRNA blood signature that detected biomarker‑confirmed Alzheimer’s with an AUC of 0.945 and outperformed plasma pTau217, which had an AUC of 0.877.
- The circRNA model better predicted progression from preclinical to symptomatic disease, with a hazard ratio of 2.92 versus pTau217’s 1.81 and a five‑year progression AUC of 0.870 versus 0.676 for pTau217.
- Researchers validated the signature across three independent cohorts totaling nearly 2,400 participants, including Knight‑ADRC and A4 study samples, and saw improved accuracy when circRNA and pTau217 were combined.
- Circular Genomics announced CircPATH™, a commercial platform built to translate the circRNA findings and to develop diagnostic products based on licensed patent PCT/US2026/017857.
- Authors and reporters caution that larger prospective clinical studies, independent replication in broader populations, and regulatory review are needed before circRNA tests can be used routinely in care or as trial endpoints.