A simple blood test can help diagnose Alzheimer’s and accurately distinguish between early- and later-stage disease, a new study finds.
A new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease not only helps diagnose the condition, but it may also indicate how far it’s progressed.
The test measures levels of a specific protein (MTBR-tau243) linked to tau accumulation in the brain… a major sign of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers used the test on a group of people with cognitive decline and were able to distinguish between early- and later-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the results, blood levels of the tau protein were significantly higher in people with mild cognitive impairment—and up to 200 times higher in those with dementia.
The researchers say blood protein levels reflected the amount of tau tangles found in brain MRIs with 92% accuracy.
The senior author says, “This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia.”
The authors say they hope these blood tests provide an affordable alternative to brain scans and help determine which patients are likely to benefit from new Alzheimer’s drugs.
Source: Nature Medicine
Author Affiliations: Washington University School of Medicine, Lund University
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