Diagnostic Accuracy of Plasma Biomarkers for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults
By
Gershon Spitz
Jake Mitchell
Beatrice Duarte Martins
Abigail Astridge
Charlotte Copas
William T. O’Brien
Georgia F. Symons
Meng Law
Terence J. O’Brien
Matthew P. Pase
Jennie L. Ponsford
Biswadev Mitra
Stuart J. McDonald
Sandy R. Shultz
May 29, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Evaluating the Diagnostic Precision of Plasma Biomarkers for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Elderly Patients
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Key Mechanisms Blood-based biomarkers (GFAP, UCH-L1, NfL, BD-tau) for diagnosing mTBI. Target Population Care Setting
Key Highlights
Older adults have higher incidence of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths. Diagnostic criteria for mTBI include clinical signs, symptoms, and neuroimaging. Blood biomarkers may improve diagnostic accuracy in clinically ambiguous cases. GFAP and UCH-L1 are approved for ruling out CT scans in suspected mTBI. Study aims to establish diagnostic thresholds for biomarkers in older adults. There is an urgent need for objective measures to complement current diagnostic criteria. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use a plausible mechanism of injury combined with clinical signs or neuroimaging abnormalities. Management
Consider blood biomarkers to complement clinical evaluation in older adults. Monitoring & Follow-up
Evaluate biomarker concentrations within 72 hours of injury. Risks
Older adults may experience slower recovery and higher mortality post-mTBI. Patient & Prescribing Data
Blood biomarkers may assist in diagnosis when clinical signs are absent or ambiguous.
Clinical Best Practices
Screen all patients presenting with suspected head injury for eligibility. Classify patients according to ACRM diagnostic criteria. Related Resources & Content
