A recent study indicates that a simple blood test could dramatically change the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by detecting key biomarkers with high accuracy. This could lead to early detection and significantly impact the treatment and management of the disease, especially with new drugs on the horizon that are most effective in the early stages. Researchers suggest that such a test could eventually be used for routine screening in individuals over 50.
- A new blood test could revolutionize the way Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed by detecting levels of a protein associated with the condition.
- The test identifies the presence of P-tau217, a biomarker for Alzheimer’s, with around 95% accuracy.
- This method could enable early screening in individuals in their 50s, well before the onset of memory loss and confusion.
- Currently, Alzheimer’s is mainly detected through PET brain scans or lumbar punctures, which are invasive and not widely available.
- Two new drugs, likely to be licensed soon, can slow Alzheimer’s progression by a third but are most effective when used in the early stages.
- In the UK, approximately 900,000 people live with dementia, and two-thirds of these cases are Alzheimer’s, many without formal diagnosis.
- Alzheimer’s blood tests could be available on the NHS within five years, aiding in the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
- Alzheimer’s charities have launched a project to assess the reliability of various blood tests for the disease.
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