How a blood test could predict if and when you could get Alzheimer's
A new blood test could be able to clock when someone may begin to have symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, an American study claims.
Alzheimer's is the cause of up to 75 per cent of dementia diagnoses in Australia, with 425,000 people living with dementia in 2024. That number is expected to rise to 1 million by 2065.
Alzheimer's Research Australia says around 250 people are diagnosed with dementia everyday, and it is the second leading cause of death in the country.
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Researchers in the United States believe this blood test is a cheaper way to screen for Alzheimer's disease. iStock/Getty
Dementia, which is incurable, costs the Australian government around $4.7 billion a year, but researchers from Washington University claim they can accurately identify when someone will begin to show symptoms of Alzheimer's, accurate to around four years.
The blood test measures the levels of a protein called p-tau217; stronger levels of this protein in someone's blood can indicate that someone has a higher chance of suffering from Alzheimer's.
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This is especially true in patients who are already suffering from some form of cognitive impairment.
Previously, brain scans or spinal fluid tests were used to measure the level of p-tau within a person, and to ultimately test for risk factors of developing Alzheimer's, but researchers believe being able to do the same thing with a blood test can help catch symptoms quicker, while being significantly cheaper.
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Memory loss and confusion are two symptoms of Alzheimer's. iStock
"In the near-term, these models will accelerate our research and clinical trials," Suzanne Schindler from Washington University said.
The study's authors shared their findings publicly in the hope it would aid other research on the disease.
"Eventually, the goal is to be able to tell individual patients when they are likely to develop symptoms, which will help them and their doctors to develop a plan to prevent or slow symptoms."
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's can include memory loss, confusion, and repetitive or vague speech
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