It could be a turning point against the most widespread and harmful form of dementia: a simple blood test could detect the risk of developing Alzheimer’s up to 15 years before the symptoms of the disease appear.
The analysis
The British newspaper Independent reports that this test, developed by the company AZLpath, is already commercially available. The test would be able to measure the levels of p-tau 217 protein, an indicator of the changes that occur in the brain during Alzheimer’s. According to what emerges from a study conducted on 786 people by the University of Gothenburg, the higher the level of this protein in the blood, the more likely or advanced the disease.
INSIGHTS
Thanks to this analysis it would be possible to estimate the probability with which a given individual can develop the disease.
The prospects
The discovery would open up the prospect of a national screening to which the entire population over 50 could be subjected. This type of research could potentially exclude the need for further more invasive investigations, such as a lumbar puncture.
Anticipating the onset of symptoms by 15 years could prove decisive in the fight against Alzheimer’s, since currently available treatments work better in patients diagnosed early.
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