New Blood Test Could Predict Alzheimer’s Risk Early
A straightforward blood test might help identify Alzheimer’s risk in older adults long before any symptoms appear, according to new research led by Harvard University. This study, shared at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London and published in a major medical journal, could change how doctors assess the risk of dementia.
The blood test measures a specific protein known as p-tau217, which is associated with harmful protein buildup in the brain. Researchers believe doctors might soon use this test similarly to how cholesterol tests are used to gauge heart disease risk.
In one of the largest studies of its kind, nearly 2,700 healthy individuals around 70 years old were observed over a period of up to ten years. The study found that those with high p-tau217 levels had about a 78% chance of developing cognitive issues within ten years and about one in three would likely show signs within just five years. Even participants with moderately elevated levels of this protein faced a significant 45% risk over a decade.
P-tau217 is a modified version of tau, which can form tangles in the brain and is linked to memory loss. This blood test offers valuable information that standard brain scans and genetic tests might miss, according to researchers.
Rachel Buckley, the study’s lead author and a neurology associate professor at Harvard Medical School, stated that these findings provide strong evidence that dementia risk can be detected years before memory problems start. She expressed hope that once validated, these blood tests could be instrumental in recruiting patients for clinical trials aimed at preventing cognitive decline.
While this test shows promise, researchers caution that p-tau217 levels alone cannot definitively predict an individual’s dementia risk. Age, genetics, kidney health, and racial background can also influence both biomarker levels and overall risk.
The researchers stressed the need for longer studies with diverse groups to refine these risk estimates. Maria Carrillo, chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, emphasized that targeting risk before symptoms arise could be crucial for future treatments, potentially transforming how dementia is diagnosed, managed, and even prevented.
In summary, this new blood test may pave the way for earlier intervention and improved outcomes for those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
