Diagnose Alzheimer's disease with a simple test
Scientists have identified a blood
test that could diagnose Alzheimer's up to 15 years before symptoms appear.
Experts believe that this test will revolutionize the early diagnosis of the
disease.
Research led by University College
London found the test to be more accurate and better than other tests for
painful lumbar punctures.
Experts said the test could pave
the way for a nationwide screening program for people over the age of 50, and
that existing treatments could work better if the disease is diagnosed early.
The developed test works by
measuring the amount of a protein in the blood called p-tau 217, which changes
in the brain during Alzheimer's disease.
This index may indicate the
severity of the patient's illness, eliminating the need for more invasive
investigations.
David Curtis, honorary professor
at University College London's Institute of Genetics, said anyone over the age
of 50 could benefit from regular screening every few years, just like screening
for cholesterol.
He said that existing treatments
have the potential to work better after early diagnosis of the disease.
In a study led by University
College London, Dr. Ashton Nichols at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden
tested 786 people, the results of which were published in the journal
Neurology.
