A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer's 90% of the Time, Study Finds
Researchers developed a blood test diagnosing Alzheimer’s with 90% accuracy, outperforming traditional methods. It may standardize cognitive impairment screening but should only be used for symptomatic individuals. Further validation is needed.
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Researchers have developed a blood test that accurately diagnoses Alzheimer’s disease 90% of the time, significantly outperforming traditional methods such as cognitive tests and CT scans. This study, published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, involved approximately 1,200 patients with mild memory issues. The blood test, which measures a form of the tau protein associated with Alzheimer’s, was found to be more reliable than the assessments made by primary care doctors and dementia specialists, who had accuracy rates of 61% and 73%, respectively. The findings suggest that routine blood tests could become a standard part of primary care for cognitive impairment, similar to cholesterol tests.
However, experts caution that blood tests should only be used for individuals exhibiting memory loss symptoms and not for those without cognitive impairment, as there are currently no treatments available for asymptomatic individuals. The study highlights the need for further validation in diverse populations and emphasizes that blood tests should complement existing diagnostic methods rather than replace them. The research also indicates that the blood test performed better in patients with advanced dementia compared to those with mild cognitive impairment. The integration of such tests into hospital systems could enhance access to Alzheimer’s screening, particularly for underserved communities.
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A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer's 90% of the Time, Study Finds
A study in JAMA shows a blood test can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with 90% accuracy, outperforming traditional methods. It may lead to routine cognitive impairment screenings in primary care. Further validation is needed.
8 commentsMe, my wife, and my father all have various auto-immune issues. It's been a frustrating fight on all three fronts to get any sort of testing done. For myself this has spanned over a decade now. My dad's journey is just starting, but we've had to switch specialists numerous times to get one that would actually DO something.
For my wife, we begged two previous PCPs for years to get an ANA and rheumatoid factor panel done because I suspected she had rheumatoid arthritis. Those tests are simple and more importantly, they're cheap. No reason to not do them in the context of patient's complaints about chronic pain, especially if they provide peace of mind and rule out serious causes. PCPs consistently brushed it off as anxiety and stress. We finally found a new PCP to take it seriously, so lo and behold: positive blood tests for both ANA and Rheumatoid Factor!
It's absurd that we have all these tools available to us, but they're not being utilized in many valid cases where they'd be useful. So while the article mentions this would be a way to start treatment early by detecting the disease earlier, I have low confidence in the health system to take that initial step.
Gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/28/health/alzheimers-blood-t... (courtesy u/bookofjoe)
Previous:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41117254
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41099517
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41094443
Related:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/28/health/alzheimer-blood-test-p...
In a large cohort of patients with cognitive decline symptoms, it predicted with 90% accuracy which patients are determined by specialists to have Alzheimer's.
This is in contrast to a 60% correct diagnosis rate by general practitioners.
The test has both 90%+ specificity and sensitivity.
The proposal is that this could improve the overall diagnostic rate by GPs by giving them a blood test to use when they are suspicious of Alzheimer's.
> The specter of dementia frequently makes me want to not live all that long.
What’s the point of knowing you’re probability of Alzheimers if there is no cure or means to delay it. Its just a shadow constantly looming over you and can be used in the future to deny you opportunities.
Some more discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41094571
Related
Hyper-Focus on Amyloid Hypothesis for Alzheimer's May Have Slowed Progress
The article critiques the overemphasis on the amyloid hypothesis in Alzheimer's research, proposing repurposing hydroxychloroquine for treatment. It highlights concerns about current drugs, fraud, and the need for diverse research approaches.
UTMB Researchers Develop Nasal Spray Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers at UTMB developed a nasal spray targeting tau protein build-up in Alzheimer's, improving cognitive functions in mice. This breakthrough may transform treatment strategies and lead to human clinical trials.
One-dose nasal spray clears toxic Alzheimer's proteins to improve memory
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch developed a nasal spray using monoclonal antibody TTCM2 to clear toxic tau proteins in Alzheimer's, showing promise for improved memory and future human trials.
Alzheimer's blood test catches 90% of early dementia cases, study finds
A study reveals a blood test can identify 90% of early Alzheimer’s dementia cases, outperforming traditional methods. It measures p-tau217 and amyloid ratios, promising earlier diagnosis and treatment interventions.
A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer's 90% of the Time, Study Finds
A study in JAMA shows a blood test can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with 90% accuracy, outperforming traditional methods. It may lead to routine cognitive impairment screenings in primary care. Further validation is needed.