A new blood test may be the key to separating seniors with mild memory problems with those who ultimately will develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to an international team of scientists.
Analyzing blood samples from patients who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, researchers predicted with 81% accuracy who would ultimately develop Alzheimer’s, 30 months before clinical diagnosis, on average.
The study is expected to lead to the development of a commercial test for the disease. While researchers admit that further study is needed, they believe that advanced knowledge of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis facilitates earlier treatment. The study was published in the Oct. 14 online issue of Nature Medicine.
