There\u2019s new progress in the battle against Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
About 1 in 9 US seniors<\/a> has Alzheimer\u2019s, the most common form of dementia, which slowly impairs memory, thinking skills and the ability to perform even basic tasks.<\/p>\n There is no single, easy test to diagnose Alzheimer\u2019s, but a new review<\/a> of 18 scientific studies confirms that a simple blood test can detect early signs of the brain disorder before cognitive symptoms<\/a> appear.<\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s disease gradually destroys memory, thinking skills and the ability to perform even basic tasks. WavebreakMediaMicro \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n The protein p-tau217 has become a reliable Alzheimer\u2019s biomarker because its concentration in the blood is strongly linked to the presence of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, two hallmarks of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n The research out this week in JAMA Neurology supports the use of p-tau217 blood tests as a \u201cminimally invasive tool\u201d for early identification of Alzheimer\u2019s, \u201cparticularly in settings where timely intervention with disease-modifying therapies may offer the greatest benefit in slowing or preventing disease progression.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Liron Sinvani<\/a>, director of the Geriatric Hospitalist\u00a0Service at Northwell Health and director of research for hospital medicine, called the finding \u201ca major breakthrough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a simple blood test to see if this protein,\u00a0this p-tau217, is present can\u00a0indicate\u00a0that someone is at a very high risk of having dementia right before symptoms even start,\u201d said Sinvani, who was not involved in the new research.<\/p>\n \u201cThis\u00a0is\u00a0definitely a\u00a0big finding in terms of,\u00a0\u2018OK. Can\u00a0we\u00a0identify\u00a0people before they even have symptoms of dementia?’\u201d<\/p>\n Blood tests are an up-and-coming method for identifying Alzheimer\u2019s. Yakobchuk Olena \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Dementia symptoms can include memory loss, difficulties with familiar tasks, communication troubles, disorientation, poor judgment and mood or personality changes.<\/p>\n An assessment of symptoms is used to diagnose Alzheimer\u2019s, along with a review of health history and physical and neurological exams. Brain imaging and a spinal fluid analysis can help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions.<\/p>\n Blood tests are an up-and-coming method for identifying Alzheimer\u2019s, with the US Food and Drug Administration recently approving<\/a> new blood testing for people 55 and older experiencing symptoms like memory loss.<\/p>\n