A new study has found that a simple blood test may be a powerful way to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, even in people with cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), which is common among Asians.
The research, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, shows that a blood marker called plasma p-tau217 is highly accurate in identifying harmful brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s. This breakthrough could make diagnosis easier, faster, and more accessible—especially in countries like Singapore where CeVD is widespread.
The study was led by Dr. Mitchell Lai from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS), working with local and international experts. It focused on a group of participants in Singapore whose health profile better reflects the Asian population, which often shows more signs of CeVD than Western groups studied in the past.
Alzheimer’s disease is caused in part by the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, such as beta-amyloid (Aβ). Until now, these protein changes were confirmed using brain scans or spinal fluid tests, which are expensive, invasive, and not easily available in many healthcare systems. In contrast, a blood test is quick, simple, and far more affordable.
In this study, scientists measured the level of p-tau217 in blood samples. High levels of this protein were linked with greater amounts of beta-amyloid in the brain, as well as faster cognitive decline. This means the blood test could not only identify early brain changes but might also help predict how quickly a person’s memory and thinking skills could worsen.
This is especially meaningful for Asian populations, where the presence of cerebrovascular problems—such as small strokes or damaged blood vessels in the brain—can make diagnosis of Alzheimer’s more difficult.
The researchers showed that the blood test still worked well, even when CeVD was present. This suggests that plasma p-tau217 can help doctors separate Alzheimer’s from other brain conditions, leading to more accurate and timely treatment.
Professor Christopher Chen from the National University Health System said the findings could change how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in Asia. Instead of waiting until symptoms are severe or relying on expensive scans, doctors could use a simple blood test to spot Alzheimer’s-related brain changes much earlier.
Dr. Joyce Chong, one of the lead researchers, added that this type of test might not fully replace scans like amyloid PET imaging, which remains the gold standard. However, the blood test can serve as an affordable screening tool. It could help doctors decide who needs further testing, reducing the number of people who must undergo expensive or invasive procedures.
The team also hopes to build on this research by following patients over a longer period and adding other blood-based or imaging markers to their studies. Dr. Lai explained that Alzheimer’s and dementia are complex diseases that often involve more than one type of brain damage.
For example, CeVD is likely to play a major role in the cognitive problems many people experience with Alzheimer’s, especially in Asia. By developing a group of useful blood markers, doctors could one day predict who is at risk, track the disease, and even guide new treatments.
In summary, this study shows that the plasma p-tau217 blood test is a powerful and practical tool for detecting early Alzheimer’s brain changes—especially in people with cerebrovascular disease.
It offers hope for more inclusive and accurate dementia care, particularly in Asian countries where traditional testing is harder to access. It’s a promising step toward easier, cheaper, and earlier Alzheimer’s diagnosis, which could lead to better patient care and future treatment breakthroughs.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and flavonoid-rich foods could help prevent dementia.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that cranberries could help boost memory, and how alcohol, coffee and tea intake influence cognitive decline.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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