A Swedish research team’s study, published in JAMA Neurology, has made a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease detection.
They’ve found that a commercial blood test can identify Alzheimer’s as effectively as standard lumbar punctures. This test detects “p-tau217,” a protein linked to Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dr. Sheona Scales praised this development. She highlighted the rapid progress in blood-based Alzheimer’s tests, noting the importance of such studies in determining the most accurate tests.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. Traditionally, the diagnosis is based on symptoms like memory or cognitive issues.
However, advanced diagnostic methods like PET scans or lumbar punctures are rarely used, with only 2% of dementia diagnoses involving these “gold standard” methods.
Dr. Richard Oakley from Alzheimer’s Society underlined the significance of improving diagnosis methods, especially with new Alzheimer’s therapies on the horizon.
These upcoming drugs, which could slow the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s, require an early and precise diagnosis for patient eligibility.
The study showed that blood levels of p-tau217 mirrored amyloid and tau levels seen in brain scans and lumbar punctures.
Dr. Scales believes that before these blood tests become standard, they need to prove their sensitivity and accuracy, matching that of established methods. This blood test, she says, could revolutionize Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
One notable aspect of the study is the use of a cut-off threshold in the blood test, helping classify individuals as likely or unlikely to have Alzheimer’s, or as needing further tests.
This approach could potentially reduce the need for follow-up tests like lumbar punctures or PET scans by about 80%.
However, Dr. Scales noted some unanswered questions. Understanding how these blood tests perform in diverse, real-world healthcare settings is crucial. Also, like any new medical advancement, these tests require regulatory approval before clinical use.
To further explore these avenues, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the NIHR launched the Blood Biomarker Challenge in 2023.
This project aims to pilot new blood tests within the NHS, enhancing early and accurate Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Dr. Scales stressed the importance of a prompt and precise diagnosis for Alzheimer’s, which could bring us closer to finding a cure for dementia.
This study represents a significant step towards easier and more accessible diagnosis methods for Alzheimer’s, potentially changing the landscape of dementia care and treatment.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Neurology.
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