A Blood Test May Revolutionize Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis
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Synopsis
A groundbreaking blood test is poised to revolutionize the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, enhancing early interventions and patient care, according to research from Dublin. This test could replace invasive lumbar punctures for many patients, offering a safer and more efficient diagnostic method.
Key Takeaways
- New blood test could transform Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- Study indicates high accuracy compared to lumbar puncture.
- Potential to reduce invasive procedures significantly.
- Collaborative effort required for diagnostic implementation.
- Future availability in Ireland expected based on research findings.
New Delhi, Feb 16 (NationPress) A revolutionary blood test could potentially change the landscape of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, enhancing patient care, enabling earlier interventions, and facilitating more targeted treatments, according to researchers.
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin, the Tallaght Institute of Memory and Cognition, and St James’s Hospital, Dublin, are investigating the efficacy of a novel blood test in identifying Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
This innovative test might replace the existing diagnostic approach, which involves a lumbar puncture/spinal tap (an invasive procedure fraught with risks and challenges) for over half of patients showing early symptoms. Consequently, this would allow for more accurate and efficient diagnoses.
The research, featured in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, is among the first in Europe to assess the “real-world” effectiveness of one of the leading automated blood tests for Alzheimer’s Disease, specifically plasma p-tau217, in patients exhibiting mild symptoms while being evaluated in a specialized memory service.
Approximately 148 patients selflessly provided blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, allowing researchers to compare the performance of the new blood tests against established CSF biomarkers.
The findings indicate that measuring plasma p-tau217 through a fully automated system achieved an accuracy rate of over 90 percent compared to results derived from lumbar punctures.
Incorporating this blood test into clinical protocols could potentially eliminate the necessity for more than half of the diagnostic lumbar punctures. This holds significant implications for the diagnosis and management of early Alzheimer’s Disease.
Based on their findings, the research team believes this new blood test could replace over half of the 150-200 diagnostic lumbar puncture procedures currently conducted annually at the Tallaght Institute of Memory and Cognition.
Although this blood test is not yet available in Ireland, the research outcomes will support efforts to make it accessible in the future.
Dr. Jean Dunne, the Chief Medical Scientist at the Department of Immunology, St James’s Hospital, and Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), stated, “This ‘translation’ from research to diagnostic application relies on collaboration between scientists, clinical teams, and support from hospital management.”
