GAME CHANGER
‘Breakthrough’ new blood test ‘accurately predicts Alzheimer’s up to 15 YEARS before diagnosis’
The groundbreaking test 'could be seamlessly integrated into the NHS', experts say
A “BREAKTHROUGH” blood test could predict dementia 15 years before people are diagnosed, a study suggests.
Researchers found 11 proteins in the blood could indicate if someone is likely to develop the disease with up to 90 per cent accuracy.
1
Experts said the new large-scale study — featuring more than 50,000 Brits — adds to the “growing body of evidence” that blood tests could be used to predict the condition.
Professor Jianfeng Feng, of the University of Warwick who led the research, said the AI-assisted testing could be used to screen Brits in mid- to late-life in future.
He said: “This model could be seamlessly integrated into the NHS and used as a screening tool by GPs.”
Around 944,000 Brits are currently living with dementia and experts predict the numbers will exceed one million by the end of the decade.
Read more on dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the condition, and is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid.
There is currently no cure for the disease, although promising drugs to slow down its progress are currently in trials and are “close to being approved in the UK”, experts say.
Trial results published in January showed a blood test could help predict if dementia is “likely”, “intermediate” or “unlikely” based on people’s levels of a protein called p-tau217.
No blood tests for dementia are currently validated for use in the UK but research needed to “ move forward” with them on the NHS is being funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer's Society.
Most read in Health
The latest study, which is the largest of its kind and published in , looked at how accurately the disease could be predicted based on other proteins as well.
Researchers analysed blood samples from 52,645 healthy Brits that were taken between 2006 and 2010.
As of March 2023, 1,417 went on to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
This could lay the groundwork for the early prediction of dementia
Dr Richard Oakley
Some 1,463 proteins in the blood were analysed, of which 11 were found to be linked to someone developing the memory-robbing condition.
Dr Richard Oakley, of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This could lay the groundwork for the early prediction of dementia.”
Dr Sheona Scales, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “We have seen some fantastic progress in the development of blood tests for Alzheimer's over the last few months.
"This new study adds to the growing body of evidence that looking at levels of certain proteins in the blood could accurately predict dementia before symptoms develop.”
Thousands of Brits could miss out
It comes as charities warned thousands of Brits will miss out on new Alzheimer’s drugs unless we “gear up the NHS to deliver them”.
Donanemab and lecanemab have been shown to help slow the disease — and NHS data suggest up to 280,000 could benefit from there if they are approved this year as expected.
However, most patients won’t be eligible because the illness is usually found too late in Britain currently, experts said.
Fiona Carragher, of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Only a relatively small number of people will be able to access treatments if we don’t urgently fix dementia diagnosis.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“The majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease are not diagnosed early enough to be eligible for these early-stage treatments.
“We need urgent NHS investment in diagnostic equipment and workforce skills so it’s ready to cope with a potential surge in demand.”
What are the symptoms of dementia?
Different types of dementia affect people in various ways, and not everyone will experience the same signs.
However early signs before a diagnosis can include:
- memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- being confused about time and place
- mood changes
Source:
Topics