A new generation of blood tests may soon allow doctors to detect Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms appear, potentially opening the door to earlier intervention and slowing the progression of the debilitating condition.
Hopeful Advance in Alzheimer’s Detection
Currently, dementia is a leading cause of death in the United Kingdom, accounting for over 75,000 deaths annually, with approximately one million people living with the disease. Often, a diagnosis comes late in the disease process, after symptoms have significantly worsened. This delay underscores the importance of finding ways to identify the condition earlier, when interventions may be most effective.
According to a recent study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, a research team from Northwestern University has identified toxic proteins, known as (ACU193+), that can be detected in the blood nearly 20 years before clinical symptoms manifest. Researchers believe these proteins play a key role in inflammation and nerve cell damage – hallmarks of early Alzheimer’s disease. “Early treatment, before symptoms appear, is key because the neurological damage has already occurred by the time cognitive problems begin,” explained Professor Richard Silverman, a principal investigator in the study.
How Do the New Blood Tests Function?
Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s relies on a combination of tests, including memory and cognitive assessments, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and PET scans to detect protein plaques in the brain. However, the new tests offer a simpler approach, analyzing a basic blood sample drawn from the arm. Some researchers are even developing a finger-prick test that could be administered at home and mailed to a laboratory for analysis.
A blood test called Fujirebio Lumipulse, being used in London, detects a protein called pTau217, a biomarker associated with “tau” tangles and amyloid plaques in the brain. Experts from University College London confirm that some of these analyses are now sensitive enough to detect extremely small quantities of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s.
Is Stopping the Disease Possible?
Whereas there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, some medications, such as cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept, can temporarily improve symptoms. Newer drugs, including lecanemab and donanemab, have shown the ability to leisurely disease progression in its early stages, but their widespread leverage is limited by cost and potential risks, such as brain bleeding.
The Northwestern University team is also working on a new drug, NU-9, which has proven effective in stopping the toxic proteins in mice, raising hopes for a future therapy that could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Why is Early Diagnosis Crucial?
Statistics indicate that one in three people with dementia in the United Kingdom do not receive a formal diagnosis, and a quarter of patients wait two years or more before seeking medical help, often assuming symptoms are simply a sign of aging. Experts believe that early diagnosis will allow individuals to make lifestyle changes – such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol – that may help slow the disease’s progression.
