A major new study by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has found that blood tests could help detect Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias earlier.
This could lead to faster, cheaper, and easier diagnosis—especially helpful for communities that are often left out of traditional testing methods.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, focused on Hispanic and Latino adults in the U.S., a group more likely to develop dementia but often underrepresented in studies.
Scientists tested the blood of over 5,700 people aged 50 to 86 and looked at how certain brain-related proteins in the blood related to signs of memory and thinking problems reported by the participants themselves.
The researchers found high levels of NfL (a sign of nerve damage) and GFAP (a sign of brain inflammation) in the blood were linked to declines in thinking and planning abilities.
High levels of NfL and tau protein were linked to memory decline. Amyloid-beta protein (another Alzheimer’s marker) was not linked to reported memory problems. Even people who seemed healthy showed signs of early decline if they had high NfL levels.
Right now, there’s only one FDA-approved blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s, and it’s expensive and hard to access. This new approach could make testing more available to more people.
The study’s strength lies in its diversity, helping researchers understand how different life factors affect brain health in real-world situations.
While promising, more research is needed before these blood tests can be widely used in clinics. Even when ready, these tests should work alongside other methods—not replace them.
As lead researcher Dr. Freddie Márquez explains, ‘These tests have tremendous potential, but they should complement existing approaches, not replace them.’
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
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