Global research trends and hotspots in blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: a bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND: Blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) are rapidly reshaping the diagnostic and translational landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD), offering a scalable alternative to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assays and positron emission tomography (PET). This paper aims to conduct bibliometric analysis on the hotspots and trends in this field. METHODS: Publications addressing AD-related blood/plasma/serum biomarkers from 1 January 2011 to 29 November 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus. Only English-language articles and reviews were included. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package bibliometrix were used to evaluate publication trends, collaboration networks (countries, institutions, authors), co-cited journals and references, and keyword evolution. RESULTS: A total of 1,771 publications with 53,568 citations were included. Annual output rose steadily and accelerated after 2018, while 2025 records covered approximately the first 11 months of the year. The USA (795 publications) and China (478) were the most productive countries, whereas the UK and Sweden showed strong citation impact and collaboration intensity. The University of Gothenburg (263) and Sahlgrenska University Hospital (237) were the leading institutions. Henrik Zetterberg (218) and Kaj Blennow (185) were the most prolific authors. Co-citation analysis identified the NIA-AA biological research framework and validation studies of plasma amyloid-beta (Aβ) and plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) as the intellectual base. Keyword and burst analyses indicated a clear shift from early themes (e.g., proteomics and oxidative stress) toward clinically oriented topics, including plasma p-tau217/p-tau181, diagnostic performance, and implementation recommendations. CONCLUSION: Research on AD BBMs has entered a phase of rapid growth and clinical translation. Plasma phosphorylated tau (especially p-tau217) is the leading biomarker for detecting AD-specific pathology. Plasma Aβ ratios play a supportive role in amyloid triage, while neurodegeneration (NfL) and astroglial (GFAP) markers provide complementary information for prognosis and monitoring. Future priorities include real-world implementation, assay standardization, and integration of multi-marker panels into biological diagnostic/staging frameworks.