A new blood test could change how doctors detect and track Alzheimer’s disease in people with memory issues. Scientists say the test can help doctors choose the best treatment, including new drugs like donanemab and lecanemab. These medications work best when used early, making early detection crucial.
Growing Need for Better Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Professor Oskar Hansson of Lund University is one of the study’s authors. He explained why this test is important. More countries are now approving treatments that target amyloid proteins in the brain. To use these treatments effectively, doctors need better and cheaper ways to diagnose Alzheimer’s.
Current diagnostic methods include brain scans and spinal fluid tests. These tests can be expensive and hard to access for many patients. A simple blood test could make early detection easier and more affordable.
Discovery of a Key Biomarker in Blood
Alzheimer’s disease is linked to amyloid beta plaques and tau protein tangles in the brain. The study, published in Nature Medicine, focuses on a specific tau protein fragment called eMTBR-tau243. Researchers found this fragment in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s.
The study included 902 participants. Those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s had higher levels of eMTBR-tau243. People with full dementia had even more. In contrast, those with memory loss from other causes did not have increased levels of this fragment. This suggests that eMTBR-tau243 is specific to Alzheimer’s.
Experts React to the Findings
Professor Tara Spires-Jones of the University of Edinburgh praised the results. Although she was not involved in the study, she called the findings promising. She noted that this biomarker may be more effective than current tests. However, she also warned that the test is not yet ready for widespread use. Right now, it requires complex lab procedures. Scientists need to simplify the process and reduce costs before it can be used in everyday medical practice.
Blood Test Could Improve Personalized Treatment
Dr. Sheona Scales from Alzheimer’s Research UK highlighted another key benefit. She explained that eMTBR-tau243 is one of many biomarkers being studied. This marker is unique because it closely links to thinking and memory. If developed further, it could help doctors track how a patient’s brain declines over time.
A separate study, also published in Nature Medicine, offers additional insights. Researchers examined cerebrospinal fluid samples from 3,397 individuals in the US, Sweden, and Finland. They looked at the ratio of two proteins, YWHAG and NPTX2. The study found that this ratio matched the level of cognitive decline. Importantly, it worked even when amyloid or tau levels were not high.
Professor Tony Wyss-Coray of Stanford University co-authored this second study. He believes these findings could help improve clinical trials. Doctors could use these biomarkers to identify the right patients for new treatments. This could also speed up drug development and make treatments more effective.
What This Means for the Future
Together, these studies show major progress in Alzheimer’s research. A reliable blood test could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated. If the test becomes widely available, it could lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatment options.
Right now, doctors rely on brain scans and spinal fluid tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s. But these methods can be costly and hard to access. A blood test would make it easier for people to get tested early. Early diagnosis is important because new drugs like donanemab and lecanemab work best in the early stages of the disease.
Challenges Ahead
While these results are promising, there are still challenges. The test needs to be simplified so that doctors can use it easily. Researchers also need to study more diverse populations to confirm the test’s accuracy.
Despite these challenges, experts remain hopeful. More research is being done to improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment. If successful, this blood test could help millions of people worldwide.