Serum Phosphorylated Tau Protein in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease

Mohamed A Elmasry*; Abd El Razik A; Ingy Badawy

doi:10.37871/jbres2203

Research Article

Serum Phosphorylated Tau Protein in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease

Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences article abstract with citation details, DOI, publication dates, subject areas, full text links, and references.

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Open Access

Article Type Research Article

Subject Biology Group

OCLC JBRES Record

Mohamed A Elmasry*, Abd El Razik A and Ingy Badawy

Issue: Volume7-Issue6

Pages: 1-7

Received: 2026-05-03

Accepted: 2026-06-02

Published: 2026-06-03

Abstract

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative changes, while abnormal tau phosphorylation is a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Objective: This observational case-control study evaluated serum phosphorylated tau protein levels in T2DM patients compared with healthy controls and assessed their potential relevance as an early biomarker of AD-related changes.
Methods: Serum samples were collected from 35 individuals, including 25 patients with T2DM and 10 healthy controls. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, creatinine, urea, insulin, and phosphorylated tau levels were measured using standard biochemical assays and ELISA.
Results: Phosphorylated tau levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients than controls (142.56 ± 106.82 vs. 15.30 ± 34.66 ng/L; p = 0.001). LDL cholesterol was also higher in T2DM patients (137.68 ± 72.33 vs. 55.30 ± 22.01 mg/dL; p = 0.001), as were total cholesterol (249.44 ± 76.40 vs. 110.60 ± 23.35 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and HDL cholesterol (86.28 ± 56.62 vs. 35.90 ± 10.08 mg/dL; p = 0.009). No significant differences were observed in creatinine, urea, triglycerides, or insulin levels.
Conclusion: The findings suggest a possible association between T2DM and increased serum phosphorylated tau levels. However, larger studies including cognitive assessment, body mass index, dietary evaluation, and AD-specific phosphorylated tau isoforms are required before clinical use can be established.

FullText HTML FullText PDF DOI: 10.37871/jbres2203

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How to cite this article

Elmasry MA, Abd El Razik A, Badawy I. Serum Phosphorylated Tau Protein in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. J Biomed Res Environ Sci. 2026 June 03; 7(6): 7. Doi: 10.37872/jbres2303

Subject area(s)

Molecular Biomarkers

References

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