Study shows a blood test can help identify healthy people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease - AP News
Researchers have identified a blood test that can predict the likelihood of healthy older adults developing Alzheimer's symptoms within a decade. While currently used for clinical trials, experts advise that it is not yet ready for general diagnostic use.
Why it matters
This breakthrough could revolutionize Alzheimer's research by identifying high-risk individuals early, potentially allowing for more effective preventative treatments.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — A blood test may predict if apparently healthy older adults are likely to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms in the next five or 10 years, researchers reported Wednesday.
That information could be reassuring or terrifying, but for now it’s a potential tool to speed drug development by helping to identify and enroll high-risk people into studies of possible Alzheimer’s treatments or preventive strategies.
Already large clinical trials are testing if certain drugs could prevent or at least delay the disease — and if any of those pan out, doctors will need an easy way to tell who should try them.
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