A blood test to detect Alzheimer’s disease could be as accurate as painful and invasive lumbar punctures and could revolutionize the detection of the condition, according to recent research, cited by The Guardian.
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s could be possible through a simple blood test PHOTO archive The Truth
Measuring levels of a protein called p-tau217 in the blood could be as effective as lumbar punctures in detecting signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and the method could be better than a number of other tests under development, experts say.
The protein is a marker for the biological changes that occur in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. In a study of 786 people, researchers used the ALZpath p-tau217 test to identify patients who have a high, intermediate, or low likelihood of having Alzheimer’s disease.
Blood tests can be accurate
Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This study is a hugely welcome step in the right direction as it shows that blood tests can be just as accurate as more invasive and expensive tests in predict whether someone has features of Alzheimer’s disease
Moreover, the results of these tests may be clear enough to not require further investigation for some people with Alzheimer’s, which could significantly speed up diagnosis in the future. However, we still need more research in different communities to understand how effective these blood tests are for everyone living with Alzheimer’s.”
Currently, the only way to confirm protein build-up in the brain is through a lumbar puncture or an amyloid PET scan. Lumbar puncture involves inserting a needle into the lower back, between the bones of the spine.
Testing should be carried out preventively for those over 50 years old
Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This study shows that measuring levels of a protein called p-tau217 in the blood could be as accurate as the lumbar punctures currently used to detect biological signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and superior to a number of other tests currently in development.”
Scales emphasized the need for a clearer picture of how these blood tests work in real-world healthcare systems.
David Curtis, honorary professor at UCL’s Institute of Genomics, University College London, said of the new finding: “Everyone over 50 could be screened every few years, as they are now screened for high cholesterol. It’s possible that currently available treatments for Alzheimer’s work better for those diagnosed early this way. However, I think the real hope is that better treatments can be developed.”
The study, by Dr. Nicholas Ashton of the University of Gothenburg and his colleagues, is published in the journal Jama Neurology.
2024-01-23 10:12:42
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