There are nearly 7 million people in the U.S. that suffer from Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to double by 2060
A new blood test can help detect Alzheimer’s disease(Image: Getty)
New research has found one blood test could be able to detect signs of dementia before symptoms begin.
There are nearly 7 million people in the U.S. that suffer from Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to double by 2060. A review in Jama Neurology analyzed research from 18 publications with data from 7,834 participants to determine if the protein p-tau217 could be a reliable biomarker to diagnose a pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer’s.
The protein is linked to amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which are known to be present in the cognitive disease. Testing for high concentrations of p-tau217 in the blood could help detect Alzheimer’s and allow patients to prepare.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the first in vitro blood tests for detecting Alzheimer’s disease, called the he Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio.
“Alzheimer’s disease impacts too many people, more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined,” FDA Commissioner Martin Makary said in a news release. “Knowing that 10% of people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s, and that by 2050 that number is expected to double, I am hopeful that new medical products such as this one will help patients.”
The tests are for patients aged 55 and older and presenting at a specialized care setting with signs and symptoms of cognitive decline.
Dr. Liron Sinvani, director of the Geriatric Hospitalist Service at Northwell Health and director of research for hospital medicine, told the New York Post the findings are a “major breakthrough.”
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are treatments to reduce the amyloid plaques in the early stages
“Just a simple blood test to see if this protein, this p-tau217, is present can indicate that someone is at a very high risk of having dementia right before symptoms even start,” Sinvani said.
“This is definitely a big finding in terms of, ‘OK. Can we identify people before they even have symptoms of dementia?’”
While p-tau217 blood tests must be ordered by a doctor, some can be bought on line for $229.
How to prepare for Alzheimer’s disease
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are treatments to reduce the amyloid plaques in the early stages. Being aware of the presents of amyloid plaques early could help delay symptoms.
Sinvani continued: “… The goal is that if we can identify people early enough, before they even start having symptoms, then we can potentially, hopefully as medications develop, be able to introduce medications that can prevent or slow down the progression.”
There are also lifestyle changes that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Studies show 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate has the most benefit on cognitive health, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Eating a balanced diet, participating in brain teasers and limiting alcohol consumption has also been shown to help slow progression of the disease.