New blood test detects Alzheimer’s as reliably as lumbar puncture
Making early detection more efficient and treating Alzheimer’s with effective methods
The latest research results from an international team of scientists offer promising prospects for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The current study results suggest that a blood test that measures the concentration of the protein p-tau217 offers comparable diagnostic accuracy to traditional lumbar puncture. This breakthrough could provide a simpler and less invasive way to identify and monitor Alzheimer’s disease.
p-tau217 in the blood as a reliable indicator for the development and progression of Alzheimer’s
The study, which involved researchers from Sweden, the UK, the USA and Brazil, involved the observation of 786 patients. The focus was on p-tau217 as a potential biomarker. This protein is known to aggregate in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The findings suggest that the measurement of p-tau217 in the blood could be a reliable indicator of the presence and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Diagnostic precision comparable with lumbar puncture and PET scans
The results of the international research project show that the blood test for measuring p-tau217 is comparable to a lumbar puncture or PET scan in terms of its diagnostic precision. The study participants were patients over the age of 66 with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.
In the study, the research team compared the results of the lumbar punctures and PET scans with the results of blood tests carried out on the same patients. Remarkably, in 80 percent of cases a diagnosis could be made without the need for further tests.
Richard Oakley, Director of Research at the British Alzheimer’s Society, commented positively on these findings: “This study is a hugely important advance. It shows that blood tests can match the accuracy of more invasive and costly procedures to predict the presence of Alzheimer’s features in the brain.”
In addition, the results suggest that the clarity of the test results could allow many Alzheimer’s patients to forgo further follow-up testing, which could significantly speed up the diagnostic process in the future.
Blood tests for the detection of Alzheimer’s, especially for early diagnosis, are not entirely new; they have been commercially available for around two years and are already being used in research. However, the current research results could provide a decisive impetus for the increased integration of these tests into clinical practice.
Combination of screening tests and effective treatment would have “dramatic impact on society.
David Curtis from University College London is also hopeful: “In the near future, certain population groups could be routinely screened for Alzheimer’s disease, similar to the way cholesterol levels are screened today.” This approach could allow existing treatments to be used more efficiently and, above all, earlier.
Curtis added: “I think the real hope lies in the development of better treatments. The combination of a simple screening test and effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease could have a dramatic impact on the lives of individuals and society as a whole.”
The future of Alzheimer’s treatment: simple tests and effective therapies
The development of new, simple screening tests represents a significant advance in the detection of Alzheimer’s disease. These tests enable a more efficient and less complex diagnosis than previous methods. At the same time, researchers have high hopes for the development of more effective treatment methods in order to offer both those affected and society as a whole better options for dealing with the challenge of Alzheimer’s disease.
One promising field in the treatment of Alzheimer’s is non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS). These techniques, which are increasingly being researched and optimized, are already showing impressive treatment successes. Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) is an outstanding example of this. TPS uses low-energy shock waves and has proven to be an effective method in both clinical practice and research that can help Alzheimer’s patients, especially in the early and middle stages of the disease, without significant side effects.
Sources:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2813751
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-023-00471-5
