Alzheimer's disease will be detected early

In a study conducted in the USA, two proteins found in blood plasma were examined for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s . These proteins (amyloid beta 42/40 and p-tau217) are associated with amyloid plaque accumulation, one of the main symptoms of the disease. According to the research, the developed blood test provided 95 percent sensitivity in detecting people with memory problems; in other words, the majority of these people were correctly diagnosed. In addition, the specificity rate of the test was measured as 82 percent and high accuracy was provided in excluding individuals who did not show signs of dementia. The new blood test was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study was conducted on more than 500 people in an outpatient clinic under real-life conditions. Dr. Gregg Day, who led the study, said that the test was as effective as existing invasive methods and said, “The blood test provided 95 percent sensitivity and 82 percent specificity in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. When applied in an outpatient setting, this accuracy rate is as effective as cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and is much more practical and low-cost.” Day reported that in the next stage, this test should be evaluated in larger and more diversified patient groups and in early-stage Alzheimer's patients who do not yet show cognitive symptoms. Dr. Richard Oakley, Deputy Director of Research at the Alzheimer's Association of England, also noted that the results were promising. Emphasizing that the test can help distinguish not only Alzheimer's but also the causes of cognitive decline associated with other types of dementia , Oakley said, “This study shows that blood tests make Alzheimer's diagnosis faster, easier and more accessible. Blood tests will be critical to speeding up the diagnosis process and ensuring that patients reach the treatment and support they need more quickly.” Dr. Julia Dudley, Research Director at Alzheimer's Research UK, said, “There is an urgent need to improve diagnosis. This study shows that blood tests can detect Alzheimer's disease with high accuracy in people with memory and thinking problems in the early stages.” However, Dudley stated that the people participating in the study may not fully reflect the diversity of all groups living with dementia and that the tests need to be tested more on a large scale and under real-life conditions.