Recent research suggests that proteins in blood could provide a simpler and more accessible way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. This was highlighted at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, where findings indicated that blood tests might help doctors determine if a person’s cognitive issues are due to Alzheimer’s or causes.
Historically, Alzheimer’s could only be definitively diagnosed through an autopsy. Advances have led to spinal taps and brain scans that detect key proteins and plaques associated with disease, but these methods are expensive and uncomfortable. A blood test would offer a less invasive and more affordable alternative, potentially allowing for earlier diagnosis and timely discussion of treatment options, including newly available drugs that can slow disease progression.
Eliezer Masliah of the National Institute on Aging emphasized the potential of blood tests to reshape Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment, but he cautioned that we are still in the early stages of this research. Currently, no blood tests for Alzheimer’s are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and its effectiveness in asymptomatic individuals is still being studied.
Recent studies have shown that traditional diagnostic methods without specialized scans or spinal tests are not highly accurate. For instance, primary care doctors in Sweden correctly diagnosed Alzheimer’s only 61% of the time. In contrast, a blood test measuring ratios of Alzheimer’s-related proteins was 91% accurate.
se blood tests focus on biomarkers like p-tau217, a protein associated with amyloid plaques in the brain. By measuring the ratio of phosphorylated tau (p-tau217) to non-phosphorylated tau, as well as amyloid proteins, se tests can indicate the presence of Alzheimer’s more accurately.
However, blood tests should not be the sole diagnostic tool. Cognitive issues can result from various factors, such as medication side effects or sleep disorders, and a comprehensive clinical evaluation is necessary.
While some tests are already in use, none have FDA approval, though this may change shortly. Validation and standardization are crucial for the tests to become reliable diagnostic tools. Guidelines like those for cholesterol levels are needed to ensure doctors know when and how to use and interpret the tests accurately.
In summary, blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease show promise for improving diagnosis accuracy and accessibility, but further research, validation, and standardization are needed before they can be widely adopted.
- A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer’s 90% of the Time, Study Finds The New York Times
- Controversial New Guidelines Would Diagnose Alzheimer’s Before Symptoms Appear Scientific American
- Researchers: New Blood Tests Help Doctors Identify Alzheimer’s Disease VOA Learning English
- Alzheimer’s blood tests are getting better, but still have a ways to go Science News Magazine
