Blood-based test can predict risk of developing symptoms of Alzheimer's up to a decade early
A new international study published in JAMA indicates that a blood test for the p-tau217 biomarker can predict the risk of cognitive impairment in healthy individuals up to a decade in advance. While promising, experts caution that the test is not currently recommended for asymptomatic individuals due to the lack of available disease-modifying treatments.
Why it matters
Early detection of Alzheimer's risk is a major medical milestone, though it raises ethical and practical questions about how to manage patient expectations without effective cures.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A blood test for the biomarker phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) recently received federal clearance, but questions have emerged about the extent to which such tests can accurately predict whether a cognitively healthy individual will develop cognitive impairment—a key symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
A new international study involving researchers across three continents and led by experts from the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute sheds new light on the prognostic value of such tests.
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