Blood test may predict Alzheimer’s

Australian scientists say they are one step closer to creating a blood test that can predict Alzheimer’s years before symptoms appear.

New CSIRO research has identified markers in the blood that can signal whether the disease is starting to develop in the brain.

Researchers tested 273 people and found that changes in the blood and brain scans matched with more than 80% accuracy.

Dr Noel Faux from the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health says the progressive build up of the toxic protein amyloid beta is one of the earliest changes associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Amyloid beta levels become abnormal about 17 years before dementia symptoms appear,” he said.

“This gives us a much longer time to intervene to try to slow disease progression if we are able to detect cases early.”

Researchers hope that in five to 10 years they may be able to have the blood test as frontline screening for Alzheimer’s disease, giving those at risk a much better chance of receiving treatment earlier.