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Alzheimer’s disease, one of the leading causes of dementia worldwide, has historically been difficult to accurately diagnose in its early stages. However, a Recent study conducted in Sweden suggests that this could change thanks to a new blood biomarker.
This test, based on the ratio of specific proteins such as phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) and the proportion of amyloid-β 42 to amyloid-β 40 (APS2), has demonstrated extraordinary diagnostic accuracy, far surpassing traditional clinical assessments.
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More precision than a doctor
In the study, which included 1,213 patients assessed for cognitive symptoms, the accuracy of the APS2 ranged between 88% and 92% in the detection of pathologies associated with Alzheimer’sboth in primary and secondary care. This figure contrasts with the 61% accuracy achieved by primary care physicians and 73% by dementia specialists using conventional methods.
The key to this breakthrough lies in APS2’s ability to more accurately identify the underlying pathology of Alzheimer’s, even before severe symptoms appear.
A simpler and cheaper analysis
This blood test, performed using mass spectrometry, assesses the ratio of p-tau217, an abnormal protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, compared to its unphosphorylated form, along with levels of amyloid, another protein crucial in the development of the disease.
The results suggest that the use of these biomarkers could transform early detection and management of the disease, providing a more accurate diagnosis in settings where access to complex tests such as positron emission tomography (PET) is limited.
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It’s not for everyone
However, although these results are encouraging, caution is warranted. Most of these studies have been conducted in high-income Western populations, raising questions about their applicability in other demographic contexts, especially in diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Besides, The percentage of p-tau217 could have different implications depending on the population grouphighlighting the need for further studies in other regions and contexts to validate these findings.
Beyond diagnosis, this blood test could have implications for treatment choices. While current Alzheimer’s treatments focus primarily on managing symptoms, there are new antibodies that may slightly slow the progression of the disease. However, These treatments pose significant risks and require advanced genetic testing and regular MRIs to ensure patient safety.
All in all, this breakthrough in Alzheimer’s detection could ultimately be a turning point, bringing us closer to a future in which the disease can be identified and treated as efficiently as other chronic conditions are managed today. Although we are still in the early stages, the hope is that with more research and testing, early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s will become a reality accessible to all.
