Scientists close in on blood test for Alzheimer’s

An Alzheimer’s blood test “doesn’t have to be perfect” to be useful for screening, one expert explained

Scientists are closing in on a long-sought goal a blood test to screen people for possible signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Doctors are hoping for something to use during routine exams, where most dementia symptoms are evaluated, to gauge who needs more extensive testing. Current tools such as brain scans and spinal fluid tests are too expensive or impractical for regular check-ups.

Doctors called the new results “very promising”

“In the past year we’ve seen a dramatic acceleration in progress” on these tests, they said. “This has happened at a pace that is far faster than any of us would have expected.”

“They probably could have diagnosed me years ago accurately if they had had a blood test,” they said , who represents patients on the Alzheimer’s Association’s board.

One of the experimental blood tests measures abnormal versions of the protein that forms the plaques in the brain that are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

the experimental test looks at neurofilament light, a protein that’s a marker of nerve damage.

What good will that do without a cure?

“What people want most of all is a diagnosis” if they’re having symptoms, Doctors said “What we don’t like is not knowing what’s going on.”

Lara Khouli