Blood Tests Could Predict Alzheimer’s Years Before Symptoms Appear
Summary
A study found that a common blood test marker called P-tau 217 is not very good at predicting Alzheimer’s before symptoms start. Another blood marker that detects amyloid beta protein misfolding can identify the risk much earlier, helping doctors find patients who might develop Alzheimer's years before symptoms show.Key Facts
- P-tau 217 is a blood biomarker used to identify Alzheimer's but only moderately predicts the disease before symptoms appear.
- Amyloid beta protein misfolding is a biomarker that can detect early signs of Alzheimer's better than P-tau 217 in people without symptoms.
- Combining amyloid misfolding with genetic, demographic, and other blood markers raises prediction accuracy considerably.
- The study used blood samples from the ESTHER study, a long-term health investigation of older adults.
- Alzheimer's starts with amyloid beta misfolding, which leads to plaque buildup and later to P-tau 217 changes.
- New anti-amyloid treatments slow Alzheimer’s progression but work best in early symptomatic stages and have serious side effects.
- Identifying patients early is important for effective treatment and avoiding side effects.
- Alzheimer’s disease develops due to multiple factors like genetics, blood vessel health, inflammation, and metabolism, making prediction complex.
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